rinse-pitcher

English

Etymology

rinse +‎ pitcher

Noun

rinse-pitcher (plural rinse-pitchers)

1. (obsolete) A drunkard.
   • [1561, John Awdely, “The Orders of Knaues”, in The Fraternitye of Vacabondes; republished in Edward Viles, Frederick James Furnivall, editors, Awdeley's Fraternitye of Vacabondes, Harman's Caveat, Haben's Sermon, &c‎^[1], London: Early English Text Society, 1869, page 13:

     Rince Pytcher is he that will drinke out his thrift at the ale or wine, and be oft times dronke. This is a licoryce knaue that will swill his Maisters drink, and brybe his meate that is kept for him.]

   • 1971, Allen Andrews, The Royal Whore: Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, page 9:

     What the godly Cromwell saw in this Royalist rinse-pitcher it is now difficult to assess — but he sought him for his son-in-law.

Synonyms

• squeeze-grape, swill-pot, toper; See also Thesaurus:drunkard