Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In haymaking, a bundle of hay collected from the swath, and formed into a conical shape. This is tied near the top so as to make it taper to a point, and set upon its base to dry.
  • To turn over, as in tumbling; tumble.
  • noun The place where cars are tipped, or have their contents dumped; a dump; a cradle-dump. Also tip.
  • noun Liquor taken in tippling; stimulating drink: sometimes used figuratively.
  • To drink strong drink often in small quantities.
  • To imbibe slowly and repeatedly; drink by sips or in small quantities, as liquor; use in drinking.
  • To affect by tippling, or frequent drinking; bring under the influence of strong drink; make boozy or drunk.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To drink, as strong liquors, frequently or in excess.
  • transitive verb To put up in bundles in order to dry, as hay.
  • noun Liquor taken in tippling; drink.
  • noun An apparatus by which loaded cars are emptied by tipping; also, the place where such tipping is done.
  • intransitive verb To drink spirituous or strong liquors habitually; to indulge in the frequent and improper used of spirituous liquors; especially, to drink frequently in small quantities, but without absolute drunkeness.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An area near the entrance of mines which is used to load and unload coal.
  • noun rail transport An apparatus for unloading railroad freight cars by tipping them; the place where this is done.
  • noun slang Any alcoholic drink.
  • verb To drink alcohol regularly or habitually, but not to excess.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb drink moderately but regularly
  • noun a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Origin unknown but possibly from Scandinavian source (see Norwegian tipla).

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word tipple.

Examples

  • But champagne does not age well and the tipple is unlikely to be drinkable.

    Hitler’s Champagne Fetches £1,400 | Impact Lab 2007

  • Not only do you not want to waste that 1982 Château Margaux on an aunt whose preferred tipple is Southern Comfort, but if the proceedings become--well, shall we say, convivial--even the most dedicated wine aficionado will find his attention wandering away from the vino, however impressive its pedigree.

    Holiday Wine Guide 2006

  • i understand completely why balzac died of caffiene poisoning ... my favourite writer's tipple is green tea with toasted rice ... it reminds me of the nanowrimo stint a couple of years ago

    Funny Writing Habits Sharon Bakar 2006

  • The tipple was a fairly public place, and he judged he was as safe there as anywhere.

    King Coal : a Novel Upton Sinclair 1923

  • France has earned a reputation for stubborn arrogance in the wine world for boasting of its inimitable terroirs and millennia-old viticultural traditions, while slapping lawsuits on any upstart foreign winemaker who dares to label his tipple Champagne or Chablis.

    TIME.com: Top Stories 2010

  • France has earned a reputation for stubborn arrogance in the wine world for boasting of its inimitable terroirs and millennia-old viticultural traditions, while slapping lawsuits on any upstart foreign winemaker who dares to label his tipple Champagne or Chablis.

    TIME.com: Top Stories 2010

  • In their case, the tipple is a commodity called power.

    New Zealand Herald - Top Stories 2009

  • In their case, the tipple is a commodity called power.

    New Zealand Herald - Top Stories 2009

  • I like your use of the word "tipple"...your new banner...and all the things you listed.

    Simple Joys.... Gumbo Lily 2008

  • This place was the "tipple," where the coal that came out of the mine was weighed and recorded.

    King Coal : a Novel Upton Sinclair 1923

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • A nipple dipped in tea.

    July 31, 2008

  • When flowing Cups run swiftly round

    With no allaying Thames,

    Our carelesse heads with Roses bound,

    Our hearts with Loyall Flames ;

    When thirsty griefe in Wine we steepe,

    When Healths and draughts go free,

    Fishes that tipple in the Deepe,

    Know no such Libertie.

    - Richard Lovelace, 'To Althea. From Prison.'

    February 7, 2009

  • Jest a tipple if ye don't moind, 'fore I'm on me way

    April 11, 2009