strong drinkn.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Parson's Tale (Ellesmere) (1877) §823 Whan that a man is nat wont to strong drynke.

c1450 Practica Phisicalia John of Burgundy in H. Schöffler Mittelengl. Medizinlit. (1919) 229 (MED) Let hym drynke no strong drynke.

1526 Bible (Tyndale) Luke i. f. lxxij He..shall nether drynke wyne ner stronge drynke [Gk. σίκερα].

c1645 I. Tullie Narr. Siege of Carlisle (1840) 48 Ye Garrison was every where full of strong drink.

1678 Scourge for Poor Robin 6 He is an Hogshead set on two stumps , fit for no use but to hold strong Drink.

1708 E. Ward London Terræ-filius No. 5. 10 That one Tom-doodle of a Son, who..if he happens to be Decoy'd..to fling away Two Pence in Strong Drink, he Talks of nothing but his Mother.

1798 R. Jackson Outl. Hist. & Cure Fever 283 Men, who oppress the functions of the alimentary canal with strong drink and gross aliment.

1848 Sinks of London laid Open xi. 72 A street-preacher..who could scarcely hold up his head for strong drink.

1890 W. Besant Demoniac ii. 25 The craving..for strong drink had seized him again.

1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood ix. 161 His wits sair fuddled by strong drink.

1960 Housewife Oct. 34/2 You are not used to strong drink... The typical little English Miss.

2001 R. Boyd & P. J. Richerson in G. Gigerenzer & R. Selten Bounded Rationality (2002) xvi. 290 Self-indulgent individuals succumb to the temptations of strong drink.

?1490 tr. Gouernayle of Helthe sig. Aiij^v Wake after mete and eschew & spare stronge drynkes and namely of wyne.

1555 R. Eden Briefe Descr. Moscouia in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 259^v Such stronge drinkes as are of force to inebriate.

1616 G. Goodman Fall of Man (new ed.) 352 We are now growne to that faintnesse, that hot waters, and strong drinkes, were neuer so much vsed.

1680 H. More Let. in R. Ward Life (1710) 355 It is..your constantly abstaining from all Strong Drinks, and using Moderate Drink, not too strong nor too small, that must contribute to the regaining of a due Temper of Body.

a1713 T. Ellwood Coll. Poems (?1750) 53 But Moderation chiefly use In drinking; of strong Drinks take heed, Reiterated Cups refuse.

1794 Brit. Critic Sept. 258 Persons resident in these climates..should not indulge in the use of spirits or strong drinks before dinner.

1842 C. Dickens Amer. Notes I. iii. 67 Wherever religion is resorted to, as a strong drink, and as an escape from the dull monotonous round of home, [etc.].

1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Victory I. ii One of those excitable natures which cannot endure the influence of strong drinks.

1895 G. Meredith Amazing Marriage I. i. 13 The clergyman,..renouncing strong drinks, because he found that he ‘cursed better upon water’.

1915 C. A. Beard Econ. Origins Jeffersonian Democracy ix. 250 In the country districts of New England, where spirits could not be afforded, the farmers relied upon hard cider as a strong drink.

1921 H. Pearson Mod. Men & Mummers viii. 154 He wallowed in the majestic phrase just as he wallowed in strong drinks.

1960 J. Steinbeck Let. 29 June (1989) 675 This is a dear book of the mind and very good to carry with you, a strong drink after a weary day.

2012 Independent 23 June (Mag.) 15/3 He steadied his nerves with a strong drink.