bibber

A man who is a bibber sits alone at a dimly lit bar.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A habitual drinker: "bibber" refers to a person who drinks alcohol frequently or excessively, often to the point of addiction. It is an archaic or rare term, typically used in literary or historical contexts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The tavern was filled with bibbers who spent their evenings in drunken revelry. (Habitual drinkers who consumed alcohol regularly.)
  • In medieval literature, a bibber was often portrayed as a figure of moral weakness. (A person addicted to drinking.)

Advanced Usage

• "bibber" as a compound element: The word appears in older English as part of "wine-bibber" or "ale-bibber," specifically denoting someone who drinks wine or ale excessively.
  • He was known as a wine-bibber, rarely seen without a goblet in hand. (A person who drinks wine habitually.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bib (n): a piece of cloth worn over the chest, especially by babies, to protect clothing while eating or drinking. (Note: This is a separate word, not a direct variant of "bibber.")
• Bibulous (adj): fond of or addicted to drinking alcohol; absorbent.
  • The bibulous old man spent his pension on ale. (A person who drinks excessively.)

Synonyms

• Drunkard: a person who is frequently drunk.
• Tippler: a person who drinks alcohol regularly, but not necessarily to excess.
• Sot: a habitual drunkard.

Related Idioms

• "to bib and sup": an archaic phrase meaning to drink and eat, often implying a convivial or indulgent lifestyle.
  • He would bib and sup with his companions until late into the night. (He would drink and eat with his friends.)

Note on Usage

"Bibber" is now considered obsolete or very rare in modern English. It is primarily encountered in historical texts, literature, or dictionaries as a specialized term. For contemporary use, "drunkard" or "alcoholic" are more common.