kill-devil

kill-devil

A fisherman casts a kill-devil lure into the lake.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A type of fishing lure: "kill-devil" refers to a spinning bait or artificial lure that rotates in the water, used to attract fish. This term is primarily historical or regional in usage, particularly in angling contexts.
    • A strong alcoholic spirit (archaic): Historically, "kill-devil" was a colloquial name for rum or other potent distilled liquors, especially in the Caribbean and colonial America, implying its powerful or "devil-killing" effect.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (fishing lure):

    • He tied a kill-devil to his line and cast it into the river. (He attached a spinning lure to his fishing line.)
    • The old fisherman swore by the kill-devil for catching trout. (The fisherman believed the rotating lure was effective for trout.)

  • Noun (archaic liquor):

    • Sailors often drank kill-devil to ward off the cold. (Sailors drank strong rum to stay warm.)
    • The tavern served a harsh kill-devil that burned the throat. (The bar served a very strong, rough spirit.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to use a kill-devil": to employ a spinning lure while fishing.

    • The angler preferred a silver kill-devil for deep water. (The fisherman chose a metallic spinning lure for deeper areas.)

  • "kill-devil as a nickname": The term has also been used historically as a slang name for cheap, unaged rum.

    • The plantation workers called their homemade rum kill-devil. (They used a nickname for their strong, raw liquor.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Kill-devil (adj): used attributively to describe something extremely strong or potent.

    • The kill-devil brew knocked him out. (The extremely strong drink made him unconscious.)

  • Devil-killer (n): a rare synonym for the liquor sense, but not standard.

Synonyms
  • For the fishing lure: spinner, spoon lure, swivel bait.
  • For the liquor (archaic): rum, grog, firewater (slang).
Related Idioms

  • "To drink kill-devil": to consume strong, cheap alcohol.

    • The pirates drank kill-devil before the raid. (They drank cheap, potent rum.)

  • "As rough as kill-devil": describing something harsh or unrefined.

    • His manners were as rough as kill-devil. (His behaviour was crude and unpolished.)
Notes
  • This word is considered archaic or dialectal in modern English, primarily surviving in historical texts, regional fishing terminology, or nautical lore. It is not commonly used in contemporary conversation.