Now dial. Also 7 -lush. [f. TAP sb.1 + LASH v.1]
1. The ‘lashings’ or washings of casks or glasses; dregs or refuse of liquor; very weak or stale beer.
1623. J. Taylor (Water P.), Disc. by Sea, B vij. To murder men with drinking, with such a deale of complementall oratory, As, off with your Cup, winde vp your bottome, vp with your taplash, and many more eloquent phrases.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 597. Very tap-lash; dead drink.
1813. Sporting Mag., XLII. 118. Liquors of all denominations from champagne to humble tap-lash.
1828. Craven Gloss., Tap-lash, thick small beer; poor, vapid liquor of any kind.
fig. 1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 227. This the Tap-lash of what he said.
1769. Colman, Prose Sc. Occas. (1787), III. 157. Thou … draw’st the taplash of another’s brains.
b. attrib. or adj.
1642. in J. B. Williams, Eng. Journalism (1908), 36. They have filled the City … with the fruits of their taplush inventions.
1673. Bp. S. Parker, Repr. Reh. Transp., 197. Bandied up and down by the School-men in their taplash disputes.
1682. Hickeringill, Mushroom, Wks. 1716, II. 366. Stale Taplash droppings, old and sowr.
† 2. Applied contemptuously to a publican. Obs.
c. 1648. Eng. Ballad, ‘No Money, No Friend’ (Farmer). Each Taplach … would cringe and bow, and swear to be My Servant to Eternity.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), IV. 320. Thus is it not evident Tap-lashes don’t thrive?
