near-absinthen. now rare a drink resembling absinthe or drunk in its place, usually with a lower alcohol content.
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1928 Daily Express 27 Apr. 12/4 The aspirant painters..drink near-absinthe instead of beer.
1931 Daily Express 23 Sept. 9/3 There are small cafés, with men and women drinking the yellow-greenish pernod, the near-absinthe, now that the manufacture of absinthe is forbidden.