subs. phr. (common).—A tea party: cf. MUFFIN-WORRY; TOFFEE-SCRAMBLE, etc.
1885. R. HEBER NEWTON, The Decay of Ecclesiasticism, in North American Review, cxli. 242. Gossip prevails at ‘TEA-FIGHTS’ in a back country village.
1899. R. WHITEING, No. 5 John Street, vi. ‘Well, kind of a TEA-FIGHT,’ he returns…. I looked to Tilda for confirmation. ‘Come to tea next Sunday,’ says the girl.
