dram-drinker

A dram-drinker sits alone at a dimly lit tavern table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who habitually drinks alcoholic beverages, especially in small quantities: "dram-drinker" refers to an individual who regularly consumes alcohol, often in the form of small measures called "drams" (a dram being a unit of liquid, typically about 1/8 of an ounce or a small glass of spirits). This term carries a slightly archaic or informal tone and implies a persistent or habitual drinker, not necessarily one who drinks to excess but one who drinks frequently.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The old man was known as a dram-drinker, always sipping whiskey from a small flask. (A person who habitually drinks small amounts of alcohol.)
  • In the village, the local dram-drinker would visit the pub every evening for a single measure of gin. (Someone who regularly consumes a small drink.)

Advanced Usage

• "Dram-drinker" as a historical or literary term: This word appears in older texts or descriptions of social habits, often in British or Scottish contexts where "dram" was a common term for a small serving of spirits.
  • The tavern keeper served the dram-drinker his usual portion of rum. (A regular customer who orders a small drink.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dram (n): a small unit of weight or a small drink of alcohol, especially spirits.
  • He poured a dram of brandy into the glass. (A small amount of liquor.)
• Drink (v/n): the act of consuming liquids, especially alcohol.
  • She does not drink alcohol. (Refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages.)
• Drinker (n): a person who drinks, especially alcohol.
  • He is a heavy drinker. (Someone who consumes large amounts of alcohol.)

Synonyms

• Tippler: a person who drinks alcohol regularly, especially in small amounts.
  • The tippler enjoyed his nightly glass of wine. (A moderate, habitual drinker.)
• Sot: a person who drinks excessively, often to the point of stupor (stronger and more negative than "dram-drinker").
  • The sot stumbled out of the bar. (A heavy, chronic drunkard.)
• Imbiber: a person who drinks alcohol, often used in a neutral or formal sense.
  • He was a moderate imbiber of ale. (Someone who consumes alcohol.)

Related Idioms

• To take a dram: to have a small drink of alcohol, especially spirits.
  • After a long day, he would take a dram to relax. (Drink a small amount of liquor.)
• To be on the dram: to be habitually drinking alcohol in small quantities (informal, historical).
  • He was always on the dram, never without a flask. (Constantly drinking small amounts.)

Etymology and Notes

• The word "dram-drinker" combines "dram" (from Old French , via Latin , meaning a small weight or measure) and "drinker" (from Old English , to consume liquid). It is an uncommon term today, often found in 18th- and 19th-century literature or historical accounts of drinking customs. It suggests a person who drinks regularly but not necessarily heavily, contrasting with terms like "drunkard" or "alcoholic."