† quassv.
Obsolete.
intransitive. To drink copiously or in excess; to quaff. Also transitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [verb (intransitive)]
to drink deepa1300
bousec1300
bibc1400
to drink drunk1474
quaff1520
to set cock on the hoopa1535
boll1535
quass1549
tipple1560
swillc1563
carouse1567
guzzle1579
fuddle1588
overdrink1603
to drink the three outs1622
to bouse it1623
sota1639
drifflec1645
to drink like a fisha1653
tope1668
soak1687
to play at swig1688
to soak one's clay (or face)1704
impote1721
rosin1730
dram1740
booze1768
to suck (also sup) the monkey1785
swattle1785
lush1811
to lift up the little finger1812
to lift one's (or the) elbow1823
to crook one's elbow or little finger1825
jollify1830
to bowse up the jib1836
swizzle1847
peg1874
to hit the booze, bottle, jug, pot1889
to tank up1902
sozzle1937
to belt the bottle1941
indulge1953
the world > food and drink > drink > drinking > [verb (intransitive)] > drink intoxicating liquor > freely
wassailc1300
waught?a1513
quaff1520
to drink (it) all outa1522
bibblea1529
quaught1530
to set cock on the hoopa1535
quass1549
tipple1560
swillc1563
carouse1567
to drink, quaff (pledge one) carouse1567
troll-the-bowl1575
to take one's rousea1593
pot1622
tope1668
toot1676
compotate1694
to soak one's clay (or face)1704
birlea1800
to splice the mainbrace1805
jollify1830
brimmer1838
to give it a bit of a nudge1966
nudge1966
1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Civ To chose a kynge by lottes, to plaie at tables, to bringe good lucke, to quasse about the bourde, to synge carosses.
1563 A. Neville tr. Seneca Lamentable Trag. Œdipus i. sig. A.viii Oft quassyng poisoned Uenom soups in inwarde heate she [sc. the serpent] boyles.
1575 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre lxxxvii, in Posies sig. Iiiv Hope brings the boll whereon they all must quasse [rhyme passe].
1607 J. Marston What you Will ii. i Sing, sing, or stay weele quasse or any thing.
a1647 T. Hooker Applic. of Redempt.: 9th & 10th Bks. (1657) x. 366 That as it was said to Belshazzar when he was quassing in his cups, and bowls of the Sanctuary.
Derivatives
quassing n.
ΚΠ
1549 T. Chaloner tr. Erasmus Praise of Folie sig. Eiv Remembre the law of quassyng, Other drinke thy drinke, or rise, and goe thy waie.
c1576 T. Whythorne Autobiogr. (1961) 62 Who þat to quassing iz bent..þe maestri of þem seluz þei looz.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2007; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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