verbal phr. (popular).—To allay the morning’s thirst after a night of drink. Cf., HOT-COPPERS and DRY AS A LIME BASKET.
1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. iii. We were playing Van John in Blake’s rooms till three last night, and he gave us devilled bones and mulled port. A fellow can’t enjoy his breakfast after that without something TO COOL HIS COPPERS.
1870. The Sportsman, 17 Dec. ‘A Chapel Meeting.’ Bring me a mouthful, George, shouted a grasping Typo one day to his chum, who, at the trough in the furthest corner of the room, was COOLING HIS COPPERS with cold water.
