Obs. [Origin obscure: known 1598. Perhaps identical with prec. vb., with the primary sense ‘to tip up into the mouth,’ whence ‘to drink in large draughts’: cf. tip, tip off, TIP v.2 5. See also TOPE v.2, which is identical in sense, though, as in prec., the phonetic relation is difficult.]
1. trans. = TOPE v.2 1; to top off, to drink off, quaff; cf. tip off (TIP v.2 5).
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence’s Adelphi, I. i. It’s no heinous offence for a young man to hunt harlots, to toppe of a canne roundly.
1690. D’Urfey, Collin’s Walk thro. London, i. 41. This said, they top’d off t’other quart.
2. Only in pa. pple. (topt): Made tipsy, intoxicated, drunk. Cf. TIP v.2 4.
a. 1632. T. Taylor, God’s Judgem., vi. II. (1642), 82. When she with her son were together topt with wine.
1637. Heywood, Dial., Vulcan & Jupiter, Wks. 1874, VI. 220. She leaps and capers, topt with rage divine.
