strongersn.
/ˈstrɒŋɡəz/, U.S. /ˈstrɔŋɡərz/, /ˈstrɑŋɡərz/ slang.
1. Nautical. A strong liquid mixture, spec. one used for cleaning paintwork and woodwork (cf. soogee-moogee n. a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning other miscellaneous things > [noun] > cleaning paintwork > substance for
soogee-moogee1882
strongers1927
sugar soap1930
soogee1944
1927 ‘Giraldus’ Musings Merry Matloe 187 Strongers, the mixture of hot water and such chemicals as caustic, soft-soap, and powder for removing dirty stains.
1929 F. C. Bowen Sea Slang 135 Strongers, any strong cleaning preparation such as spirits of salt.
1960 Times 26 Feb. 14/6 Get the painter to mix you some ‘strongers’—but not too strong, not that stuff that fetched all the bristles out of the brooms.
2000 R. Mayne Lang. Sailing 297 Strongers, colloquial term for any harsh cleaning fluid.
2. = strong drink n. 1. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > types or qualities of intoxicating liquor > [noun] > strong
strong drinkc1405
ipse1634
knock-down1698
hogan1702
knock-me-down1756
milk1784
hot stuff1823
chain lightning1825
sudden death1834
hardware1835
stagger-juice1905
sting1929
strongers1939
screech1944
rocket fuel1958
1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake 58 Swiping rums and beaunes and sherries and ciders and negus and citronnades too. The strongers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1927