subs. (old).—A small measure: see quot. 1696; a stone jug.

1

  c. 1696.  B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. NIPPERKIN. Half a pint of Wine, and but half a Quartern of Brandy, strong waters, &c.

2

  1608–1700.  WARD, The London Spy, II. (1706), i., 31. By that time we had sip’d off our NIPPERKIN of my Grannums Aqua Mirabilis.

3

  1707.  D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy. … Quart-pot, pint-pot, NIPPERKIN, &c.

4

  1785.  GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

5

  1832.  J. WILSON, Noctes Ambrosianæ, Sept. William III., who only snoozed over a NIPPERKIN of Schiedam with a few Dutch favourites.

6

  1882.  J. ASHTON, Social Life in Reign of Queen Anne, i., 197. [Beer] was of different qualities, from the ‘penny NIPPERKIN of Molassas Ale’ to ‘a pint of Ale cost me five-pence.’

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