subs. phr. (common).—Gin: see DRINKS.
[1753. Tract [Notes and Queries, 1 S. ii. 246.] [The English are here spoken of as ‘expensive in BLEW BEER’ (? blue ruin)].
c. 1817. KEATS, A Portrait. He sipped no olden Tom, or RUIN BLUE, or Nantz, or cherry brandy.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, 39.
| A few short words I first must spare, | |
| To him the Hero, that sits there, | |
| Swigging BLUE RUIN, in that chair. |
1821. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., 3. Log. Here, Landlord, more BLUE RUIN, my boy! Sal. Massa Bob, you find me no such bad partner; many de good vill and de power me get from de Jack Tar.
1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, Int. xvi. Some of the whole-hoggery in the House of Commons he would designate by Deady, or Wet and Heavy, some by weak tea, others by BLUE RUIN, Old Tom, which rises above BLUE RUIN to the tune of threepence a glass, and, yet more fiery than Old Tom, as being a fit beverage for another Old One who shall be nameless, gin and brimstone.
1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Bagman’s Dog.’
| He conceived she referr’d to a delicate brewing, | |
| Which is almost synonymous, namely, BLUE RUIN. |
1847. BULWER-LYTTON, Lucretia, II., xx. ‘The littel un … had been abrought up upon spoon-meat, with a dash o’ BLUE RUIN to make him slim and ginteel.’
1859. G. A. SALA, Gaslight ond Daylight, xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the western gin-shops goes generally by the name of ‘BLUE RUIN,’ or ‘short.’
