or thirds, subs. phr. (obsolete).—See quots.
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. THREE-THREADS, half common Ale, and the rest Stout or Double Beer.
1698. M. SORBIÈRE, Journey to London in the Year 1698 [Notes and Queries, 6 S. xii. 167]. He answered me that he had a thousand such sorts of liquors, as … THREE THREADS, Four Threads, old Pharaoh …
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, ii. 286. Ezekiel Driver … with too plentiful a morning’s draught of THREE-THREADS and old Pharaoh, had the misfortune to have his cart run over him.
1874. Chambers’ Enyclopædia, s.v. PORTER … THREE THREADS is a corruption of three thirds, and denoted a draught, once popular, made up of a third each of ale, beer, and ‘two-penny,’ in contradistinction to ‘half-and-half.’ This beverage was superseded in 1722 by the very similar porter or ‘entire.’
1881. DAVIES, A Supplementary English Glossary, s.v. THREE-THREADS. Half common ale mixed with stale and double beer. [So also Encyclopædic Dictionary.]
1899. Century Dictionary, s.v. THREE … THREE THREADS, a mixture of three malt liquors, formerly in demand, as equal parts of ale, beer, and twopenny.
