Forms: 6– tipple. Also 6 typle, typple, typpel(l, typpil, 6–8 tiple, 7 tippel. [Known (in simple tenses) from 1544, in pres. pple. tippling (as ppl. a.), app. before 1500; in vbl. sb. tippling from 1531. But the agent-noun TIPPLER occurs as an established and app. legal term in 1396, and frequently in the 15th c.; so that either the verb must have existed before 1400, though not yet in evidence, or tippler must have originated otherwise, and tipple have arisen from it as a back-formation: cf. PEDLAR, PEDDLE v.
The ulterior history is uncertain; tipple or tippler cannot, from the date, be a freq. deriv. of TIP v.2 in any sense; nor is it easy to connect it with LG. and Du. tippel ‘tip, extreme point’ (TIP sb.1). But according to Aasen, Norw. dial. tipla ‘to drip slowly,’ which Falk and Torp derive from tippa to project, to drip, from tip ‘point,’ has also the sense ‘to drink in small quantities,’ ‘tipple,’ evidently related to the Eng. word, though the mode of relationship is not clear. An ultimate connection with TAP sb.1, v.1 has also been thought possible, but connecting links are wanting.]
† 1. a. trans. To sell (ale or other strong drink) by retail (see TIPPLER1 1). b. absol. or intr. To carry on the trade of a ‘tippler’; to draw and retail liquor, sell from the tap, Obs.
a. 1500[?]. [see TIPPLING ppl. a. 1].
1531. [see TIPPLING vbl. sb.1 1].
1544. Coventry Leet Bk., 771. That noon inhabitaunt of this Citie shall … brewe or tiple eny ale within this Citie to sell but onelie suche … persones as shal-be therunto appoynted.
1594. in J. Morris, Troub. Cath. Forefathers (1877), 281. Dorothy Browne,… who by reason she is an obstinate recusant, was heretofore discharged in open sessions from brewing and tippling,… doth not give over the same, but continually since hath brewed and tippled.
1611. in N. Riding Rec. (1884), I. 215. John Pearson … for tunning of ale from Yorke with a lycence … and tipling and selling it in his house.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 294. The Taverns where they Tiple, and sell all sorts of Provisions.
2. intr. To drink of intoxicating liquor: in earlier use, to drink freely or hard; to booze; now esp., to indulge habitually to some excess in taking strong drink.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 265 b. In this conflict was hurt Albert Brunswick, the sonne of Duke Philip, going vnaduisedly after he had wel tippled.
1570. Levins, Manip., 128/18. To Typpil, potilare.
1603. Florio, Montaigne, II. ii. 198. By making an Ambassador to tipple square … he wrested all his secrets out of him.
1661. Pepys, Diary, 23 April. I wondered to see how the ladies did tipple.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), To Tipple, to drink hard.
1749. Gray, Lett. to Wharton, 25 April. We shall smoke, we shall tipple, we shall doze together.
1861. Tulloch, Eng. Purit., ii. 289. They taught school, and tippled on the week-days.
b. trans. To drink (intoxicating liquor), esp. to take (drink) constantly in small quantities.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, II. 31. Tipling the plesaunt wine they downe to table sit.
1591. Greene, Disc. Coosnage, Pref. (1592), 3. He … had tipled so much malmsey, that he had neuer a readie word in his mouth.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1327. How the slut tipples off the wine.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 93. Sack and Brandy out of the Bottle they will Tipple, till they are well warmed.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. xi. The beer, of which having tippled a very large quantity.
1849. Clough, Dipsychus, II. ii. 168. We sit at our tables and tipple champagne.
c. transf. and poetic. To drink, sip. intr. and trans. Now rare or Obs.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., Captiv’d Bee, 4. It chanc’t a bee did flie that way,… To tipple freely in a flower.
1649. Lovelace, To Althea fr. Prison, ii. Fishes that tipple in the deep Know no such liberty.
1781. Crabbe, Library, 578. No more the midnight fairy tribe I view, All in the merry moonshine tippling dew.
d. trans. with away, † up: To spend, squander, lose, or get rid of by tippling.
a. 1619. Fletcher, Wit without M., II. iv. That annuity You have tippled up in taverns.
1687. J. Renwick, in Biogr. Presbyt. (1877), II. 251. Ye must not be Lovers … of Strong Drink, nor tipple away Time in Alehouses.
1824. W. Irving, T. Trav., II. x. 42. I took to the bottle, and tried to tipple away my cares.
† 3. trans. To intoxicate, make drunk. See also TIPPLED ppl. a. below. Obs.
1566. Painter, Pal. Pleas. (1890), II. 13. When they had well whitled and tippled themselues.
1625. Purchas, Pilgrims, IX. xix. § 4. 1660. The most part eate Opium,… which tipples, intoxicates and duls them.
1648. Gage, West Ind., xix. (1655), 144. By thus cheating and tipling poor Indians.
† 4. advb. phr. Tipple square: cf. 1603 in 2.
1605. Armin, Foole upon F. (1880), 41. But he … got downe into the Seller, and fell to it tipple square.
Hence † Tippled ppl. a., intoxicated, drunk.
Orig. pa. pple. active, ‘that has tippled’; cf. well read, well spoken, etc.
1564. J. Rastell, Confut. Jewell’s Serm., 66 b. Whether God be … forgetfull, or well tipled.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, I. 7. Thou tipled Knight, a snarring curre, to sight and show thou art.
1611. Cotgr., Enyvré … drunke … mellow, tipled.
1660. Mrq. of Dorchester, Lett. to Ld. Roos, 2. A Tippl’d Fool, and a Bragging Coward.
1669. Dryden, Tyrannic Love, IV. i. Merry, merry, merry, we sail from the East, Half tippled at a rainbow feast.
