slang. [Punning use of the surname Lushington, with allusion to LUSH sb.2
The ‘City of Lushington’ was the name of a convivial society (consisting chiefly of actors) which met at the Harp Tavern, Russell Street, until about 1895. It had a ‘Lord Mayor’ and four ‘aldermen,’ presiding over ‘wards’ called Juniper, Poverty, Lunacy, and Suicide. On the admission of a new member, the ‘Lord Mayor’ (of late years at least) harangued him on the evils of excess in drink. The ‘City’ claimed to have existed for 150 years; if this claim be well-founded, the existence of LUSH sb.2 will be authenticated for a date considerably earlier than that of our first quot. Our information is from ‘Sir’ B. Davies, the last ‘Lord Mayor of Lushington.’]
† 1. In various jocular phrases referring to drink. (See quots.) Obs.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, s.v. Lush, ‘Lushington’ or ‘dealing with Lushington,’ taking too much drink.
1823. Egan, Grose’s Dict. Vulgar Tongue, s.v. Lush, Speaking of a person who is drunk they say, Alderman Lushington is concerned, or, he has been voting for the Alderman.
1826. The Fancy, I. 31. He is reported not to take sufficient care of himself: Lushington is evidently his master.
2. A drunkard.
[1840. Comic Almanack, 39. A blessed School of Physic—half-and-half! The Lushington of each young Doctor’s Commons; Medical Students—sons of gin and chaff—Going to pot.]
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 64. If they have any … a little stale, at the end of a week, they sell it at the public-houses to the ‘Lushingtons.’
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xiii. 134. The best eddicated chaps are the worst lushingtons when they give way at all.
