pot-valiantadj.n.

1647 Declar. Representations Officers of Navy 5 Captaine Lamming is only Pot-valiant, preferred from slavery in Argeire to be Master of a Dogger-boate last yeare, and he nor any with them ever fired a Musket.

1650 Mercurius Politicus No. 16. 276 On Munday next our Assizes begin, where we shall see the business concerning these Pot-valiant fellows disputed.

1700 E. Ward London Spy II. iii. 16 He had made himself Pot Valiant with his Countrymans liquor.

1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 190 Like a man who has drank himself pot-valiant.

1798 M. Wollstonecraft Maria 94 Her husband was ‘pot-valiant’, he feared her not at the moment, nor had he then much reason.

1803 S. T. Coleridge Let. 1 Feb. (1956) II. 919 There is a preparation of the Indian Hemp, called Bhang, or Bang, or Banghee—the same Drug, which the Malays take, & under it's influence become most pot-valiant Drawcansirs, run a muck, &c.

1845 E. Miall in Nonconf. V. 181 As pot-valiant as our friend Pistol.

1915 ‘Bartimeus’ Naval Occasions (new ed.) x. 74 Presently said he of the other ship, waxing pot-valiant by reason of Marsala, [etc.].

1964 PMLA 79 372/1 The warriors of Hrothgar who, beore druncne (1.480), stayed in the hall to engage Grendel were doubtless somewhat pot-valiant; but seem to be objects of pity and sorrow rather than of scorn.

2002 Independent on Sunday (Nexis) 24 Feb. 26 By the end of the 17th century Homer's brave soldier [sc. Hector] had become a pot-valiant yob, and has never recovered.

1903 Spectator 31 Jan. 172 The so called Irish Brigade..composed..chiefly of Continental pot-valiants.

1844 W. H. Maxwell Wanderings in Highlands & Islands II. xvi. 218 Pot-valiantly, the militia-men determined to take the road.

1903 J. M. Falkner Nebuly Coat xiii. 201 He gave a little shiver, but the drink was in his veins; he laughed pot-valiantly, and turned up an alley towards the centre tower.

1978 W. F. Buckley Stained Glass xv. 156 Egged on, the German stepped potvaliantly up onto the bench.

1994 Boston Herald (Nexis) 4 Jan. 22 ‘Socialism or death,’ he potvaliantly blustered in 1990, as the Soviet Bloc was coming apart in chunks.