1866. HARRIS (Evidence before Totness Election Commission]. The voters ask for ‘sub,’ which is the term used here for money, as ‘sugar’ and PAINT are used elsewhere.
Verb. (common).—To drink. PAINTED = DRUNK. [Cf. Macbeth, ii. 3].
1853. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Digby Grand, ii. Each hotel we passed … called forth the same observation, ‘I guess I shall go in and PAINT.’
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, xxiv. The muse is dry and fain would PAINT—imbibe the vulgar call.
