DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – ADJECTIVES
1985 — DEAD in a bar: used to describe a drink that has been abandoned → UK sl.
1998 — BEHIND THE STICK tending bar → sl. (Bk.)
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – NOUNS – PLACE
1547 — TIPPLING-HOUSE a house where intoxicating liquor is sold and drunk; an ale-house; a tavern → obs.
.M16 — BOOZE KEN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOOZEN KEN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOOSING-KEN → BOOZING -KEN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOOZING-CAN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOOZING-CRIB an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOWSE-KEN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOWSING-CRIB an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOWSING-INN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M16 — BOWSING-KEN an ale-house; latterly a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
1576 — IVY-BUSH a tavern or public house
1577 — VENT an inn or tavern → obs.
1590 — TIPPLING-INN an alehouse; a low-class inn → Eng. dial.
1593 — ALE DRAPERY a place where alcohol is sold → colloq. obs.
1596 — BOUSING KEN a low alehouse → thieves’ sl. obs.
..L16 — TIPPLING KEN a public house; a tavern → sl.
..L16 — TIPPLING OFFICE a public house; a tavern → sl.
..L16 — TIPPLING SCHOOL a public house; a tavern → sl.
..L16 — TIPPLING SHOP a public house; a tavern → sl.
..L16 — TIPPLING TENEMENT a public house; a tavern → sl.
1622 — RED-GRATE a tavern or brothel, or both combined → sl.
1637 — ORDINARY a tavern, plainer than an inn → Amer. dial.
1640 — BARLEY-ISLAND an alehouse → obs.
1656 — CABARET a drinking house, a pot-house
1676 — TOUTING-KEN a drinking house, a tavern bar → obs.
1680 — FUDDLING-SCHOOL a drinking den
1685 — MUGHOUSE an alehouse, a tavern
..L17 — BOX a small drinking house or tavern → sl.
..L17 — DARK HOUSE a tavern offering bedrooms for the night → sl.
1700 — OFFICE a man’s ordinary haunt, as a tavern, ale-house, gaming-house, etc → sl. obs
..E18 — MUGHOUSE a cheap tavern → sl.
1704 — BIBBING-HOUSE an alehouse; a tavern; a house where intoxicating liquor is sold and drunk
1725 — TAP a bar, a tap-room → colloq.
1753 — BUVETTE a tavern, a small inn; a refreshment bar or room
1783 — LUST-HOUSE a tavern with a beer-garden
1785 — SIGN OF THE FIVE SHILLINGS any public house called the Crown → sl.
1790 — LUSH KEN an alehouse or saloon → criminals’ sl.
1790 — LUSHING KEN an alehouse or saloon → criminals’ sl.
1790 — SHEBEEN an unlicensed drinking place, an illegal, late-night drinking club → Irish sl.
..L18 — WATERING HOUSE a place where alcohol is available → sl.
..L18 — WATERING PLACE a place where alcohol is available → sl.
..19C — BLOOD-HOUSE a squalid, disreputable bar or public house → Aust. sl.
..19C — BUDGE KAIN a public house, a tavern → Sc.
..19C — LUSH DRUM a bar or saloon → UK criminals’ & US sl.
..19C — LUSHING CRIB a bar or saloon → sl.
..19C — LUSH-PANNY an alehouse or low public house → Brit. sl.
..19C — O-BE-JOYFUL HOUSE a public house → sl.
..19C — PISS-FACTORY a tavern → sl.
..E19 — CANTEEN a public house; a tavern → S. Afr. sl.
..E19 — SLEEK AND SLUM (SHOP) a public house frequented by ‘single men and their wives’, i.e. prostitutes and their male clients sl.
1800 — SHEBEEN HOUSE an unlicensed drinking place → UK sl.
1801 — SHEBEEN SHOP an unlicensed drinking place → UK sl.
1806 — GROCERY a speakeasy; a saloon → Amer. dial.
1808 — NALE an alehouse (‘an ale’) → Sc.
1809 — POTHOUSE a disreputable tavern → Amer. dial.
1817 — YILL-HOUSE a house where ale is sold → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1818 — DOGHOLE a saloon; a place where spirituous liquors are sold; a groggery; a ‘dive’ → Amer. dial.
1818 — MINCH-HOUSE a small inn or ale-house → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
1819 — CRIB a shop, a public house, etc. → thieves’ sl.
1819 — LUSH-CRIB a drinking bar, a low public house → sl.
1821 — DOGGERY a saloon; a place where spirituous liquors are sold; a groggery; a ‘dive’ → Amer. dial.
1823 — CRIB a disreputable drinking saloon → sl., chiefly US
1828 — WHISKEY HOUSE a low-class or illegal bar or saloon; a honky-tonk → Amer. dial.
1836 — CONFECTIONARY → CONFECTIONERY a barroom or liquor store → Amer. dial. arch.
1836 — DRUNKERY a public house, a drink-shop; a place to get drunk in
1837 — DEADFALL a dishonest, disreputable, vice-ridden drinking establishment → US sl.
1837 — POTHOUSE GROCERY a disreputable tavern → Amer. dial.
1837 — SNUGGERY the bar-parlour of an inn or public-house
1840 — SILVER HELL a low-class gaming saloon → colloq.
1841 — SALOON a place where alcoholic drink is sold and consumed → chiefly US & Can.
1844 — HUSH-SHOP a house for the clandestine sale of drink; an unlicensed drink-shop
1844 — TIDDLE-A-WINK → TIDDLEY-WINK → TIDDLYWINK → TIDLEY-WINK an unlicensed public-house; a small beer-shop → sl.
.M19 — ABS-LUSHERY a drinking house → UK criminals’ sl.
.M19 — BALL JOINT a bar → sl., orig. US
.M19 — BUDGING KEN a public house, a tavern → sl.
.M19 — DAMP BAZAAR a bar → rhyming sl.
.M19 — DARKIES a variety of late-night bars and music-halls on or near the Strand, London, usually situated below ground level → sl.
.M19 — DEAD HOUSE a room in an outback public house set aside for those who are incapably drunk → Aust. sl.
.M19 — HOLE IN THE WALL an illicit bar → sl.
.M19 — PIGGERY a squalid drinking establishment → US sl.
.M19 — SERVANT LURK a public house where duplicitous servants meet criminals to plan mutually beneficial robberies → sl.
.M19 — SHANTY a public house, esp. an illicit or unlicensed one → Aust. & NZ
.M19 — SNUG one of the bars in certain pubs in Britain and Ireland, offering intimate seating for only a few persons; the bar-parlour of a public house or inn → sl.
.M19 — VELVET ROOM the back room of a saloon where patrons may enjoy a slightly quieter and more salubrious atmosphere than in the rowdier front → US sl.
1851 — JERRY-SHOP a public house; a beer-house → sl.
1856 — SAMPLE ROOM a saloon; a barroom → Amer. dial.
1857 — BLIND TIGER a place that sells liquor illegally → Amer. sl.
1859 — DRUM a disreputable drinking saloon → sl., chiefly US
1861 — FANCY HOUSE a public house where ‘the Fancy’ father (the sporting fraternity) → sl.
1862 — SHEBANG a disreputable tavern or other place of resort → Amer. dial.
1865 — TOM AND JERRY a low drinking shop → sl.
1868 — CHAIN-LOCKER a cellar barroom; a dive → US nautical sl.
1870 — BLIND PIG a tavern that opens after the legal closing hour; an illegal bar → sl.
1871 — DIVE a saloon, a low drinking establishment → sl., orig. US
1874 — HELL’S HALF-ACRE a low-class barroom or dive → Amer. dial.
1882 — BRASSERIE a beer-saloon, usually one in which food is served
1888 — BARREL HOUSE a low-class drinking-saloon → US
1889 — NEWS OF THE DAY a public-house → UK criminals’ sl.
1889 — SPEAKEASY an illicit liquor store or drinking club, esp. during Prohibition → sl., orig. & chiefly US
1890 — BOOZING KEN an alehouse or tavern → sl. (Bk.)
1890 — BUFFET a speakeasy, a tavern → Amer. dial.
1890 — CHAFFING CRIB a drinking room where quizzing or bantering is carried on → sl. (Bk.)
1890 — CHURCH WITH A CHIMNEY IN IT a public house → sl. (Bk.)
1890 — GUZZERY a saloon; a bar → Amer. sl.
1890 — GUZZLE SHOP a cheap bar or saloon → Amer. sl.
1890 — GUZZLERY a cheap bar or saloon → Amer. sl.
1890 — O-BE-JOYFUL WORKS a public house → sl.
1890 — YILL-SHOP a place where ale is sold → Sc.
1891 — DAGO-SHOP a low saloon for depraved men and women, conducted by an Italian → US sl., derogatory
1892 — CANTEEN a roadside tavern → S. Afr. sl. (Bk.)
1894 — BEER-SHIP a public-house → Eng. dial.
1894 — HONKY-TONK a cheap, usually disreputable, saloon and gambling place → US sl.
1894 — JUG AND BOTTLE the bar of a public house at which alcoholic liquors are sold for consumption off the premises
1895 — BOOZER a public house → Brit., Aust. & Irish sl.
1896 — MAHOGANY a bar counter → Amer. sl.
1897 — BOOZING KEN a tavern → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1898 — CAN-HOUSE a public house → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1898 — RUBBEDY → RUBBERDY a public house → Aust. sl.
1898 — RUBBEDY-DUB a public house → Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
1898 — RUBBETTY → RUBBITY a public house → Aust. sl.
1898 — RUBBITTY-DUB → RUBBITY-DUB a public house → Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
1898 — RUPPERTY a public house → Aust. sl.
..L19 — ANIMAL a public house, whose sign shows a lion, bull, bear, or other creature → sl.
..L19 — BOHEMIAN BUNGERY a public house frequented by (impecunious) writers and artists → sl.
..L19 — BREAK-O’-DAY DRUM an all-night tavern → sl.
..L19 — BUNGERY a public house, a tavern → sl.
..L19 — DEAD HOUSE a particularly unappealing bar or saloon → US sl.
..L19 — GUZZLE CRIB a cheap bar or saloon → US sl.
..L19 — LAMBING-DOWN SHANTY a rural tavern → Aust. sl.
..L19 — LAMBING-DOWN SHOP a public house → Aust. sl.
..L19 — LUSHERY a saloon or bar → sl.
..L19 — LUSH-HOUSE a saloon or bar → sl.
..L19 — MAN-TRAP a public house → Aust. sl.
..L19 — NEWS OF THE DAY a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
..L19 — ONE-DRINK HOUSE a public house where only one drink is allowed in a given period; the customer must then go out and come back before being eligible for another → sl.
..L19 — SIDE-POCKET an out-of-the-way drinking saloon → US sl.
..L19 — WATERING PLACE a place of entertainment for public drinking favoured by the rich → US sl.
..20C — BALLOON (CAR) the saloon bar of a public house → sl.
..20C — CABIN CRUISER a public house, the boozer → Brit. rhyming sl.
..20C — CHEAP JOHN a dirty, dilapidated saloon → Amer. sl.
..20C — NUCLEAR SUB a public house → Brit. rhyming sl.
..20C — PEEVER a public house → market-traders’ sl.
..20C — SAWDUST JOINT a down-market bar, or gambling saloon → sl.
..20C — SAWDUST PARLOR a down-market bar, or gambling saloon → sl.
..20C — SAWDUST PLACE a down-market bar, or gambling saloon → sl.
..20C — SAWDUST SALOON a down-market bar, or gambling saloon → sl.
1900 — LUSH STASH a tavern, a bar → African-American sl.
1900 — SHOE-POLISH SHOP a saloon → US sl.
1901 — THE NINETEENTH HOLE the bar-room in a golf club-house → sl., orig. US
1902 — IND an inn, a public-house → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1903 — SHIPOO → SHYPOO a public house that sells inferior drink → Aust. sl.
1903 — SHYPOO HOUSE a public house that sells inferior drink → Aust. sl.
1903 — SHYPOO JOINT a public house that sells inferior drink → Aust. sl.
1903 — SHYPOO SHANTY a public house that sells inferior drink → Aust. & NZ sl.
1903 — SHYPOO SHOP a public house that sells inferior drink → Aust. sl.
1904 — BARREL SHOP a low-class drinking-saloon → US
1904 — SUCK-CASA a public house → sl. (Bk.)
1905 — HAGGER-MAKER’S SHOP a public house → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1905 — TIGER a place where liquor is sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1907 — NIGGER JOINT a cheap bar, saloon, or restaurant → US sl., offensive
1908 — SNAKE ROOM a room off a saloon, into which a barkeeper or the bouncer could slide drunk lumberjacks head first through swinging doors from the bar-room → Amer. dial. esp. logging usage
1909 — NEAR AND FAR a (pub) bar → rhyming sl. (Bk.)
1910 — BARRIER a bar → Aust. sl.
1910 — HOLE IN THE WALL a bar → US sl.
1910 — RAMP a tavern → Aust. sl.
1913 — BLOOD-HOUSE a public house noted for violence or rowdiness → Aust. & NZ sl.
1913 — GARGLE-FACTORY a public-house, tavern, etc. → sl.
1915 — BOOZERY saloon, esp. an illegal or after-hours saloon → US sl.
1920 — ICE PALACE a high-class saloon → US criminals’ sl.
1922 — PEG-HOUSE a public house → sl.
1926 — RUB-A-DUB a public house → Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
1926 — RUB-A-DUB-DUB a public house → Aust. & NZ rhyming sl.
1927 — BOAR’S NEST a barroom for men only → Amer. dial.
1927 — GYP FLAT → GYP JOINT a business establishment that makes a practice of fleecing customers; a club, bar, etc. where the unwary will be swindled → Amer. sl.
1927 — JUICE-JOINT a bar, club, or stall serving either alcoholic or non-alcoholic liquor → US sl.
1930 — BOTTLE CLUB a social club where members may drink after legal hours → US sl.
1930 — GAFF a bar → sl.
1930 — RED ONION a speakeasy → Amer. dial.
1930 — SPEAK a speakeasy → US sl.
1930 — WALLOPER a bar, a hotel → sl.
1931 — SMOKE JOINT a bar selling inferior or cheap liquor → US sl.
1931 — SPEAKO a speakeasy → US sl.
1932 — CLIP-JOINT a bar, club, etc. that charges exorbitant prices → sl., orig. US
1932 — JUICE JOINT a place where alcohol is served illegally → US sl.
1934 — LOCAL a public house serving the immediate neighbourhood → Brit. sl.
1935 — RAMP a public house → UK sl.
1936 — NIGGER JUKE a cheap bar, saloon, or restaurant → US sl., offensive
1937 — SMOKE-SHOP a bar selling inferior or cheap liquor
1938 — BUCKET OF BLOOD a speakeasy; a tough bar; a cheap dive → Amer. dial.
1939 — BEER-OFF an off-licence → Brit. sl.
1939 — POWERHOUSE a tavern or speakeasy → Amer. dial.
1939 — TONK a place to gather to drink moonshine, dance, gamble, and fight; a honky-tonk → Amer. dial.
1940 — LUSHPAD a bar → African-American sl.
1945 — BENZINERY a low-grade drinking place → US Western usage (Bk.)
1945 — BIT HOUSE a cheap saloon → US Western usage (Bk.)
1945 — BUCKET OF BLOOD a violence-prone frontier saloon → US Western usage (Bk.)
1945 — DEADFALL a drinking establishment of bad repute → US Western usage (Bk.)
1945 — DOGGERY a cheap saloon → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1945 — GROCERY a bar or saloon → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1945 — LUSH CRIB a saloon or tavern → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1945 — RUM-HOLE a small drinking establishment, a saloon → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1945 — RUM-MILL a small drinking establishment, a saloon → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1945 — WHISKY MILL a saloon → US Western usage (Bk.)
1950 — AFTER-HOURS an after-hours bar, club, or restaurant → US sl.
1950 — ARK a low bar-room; a ‘dive’ → US sl.
1950 — BLUE PIG an after-hours bar; a speakeasy; an unlicensed drinking house → US sl.
1950 — LOG a bar or tavern → US sl.
1950 — OFFIE → OFFY an off-license; orig. a counter in a public house over which alcohol could be sold for consumption off the premises → sl.
1950 — SNAKEPIT a bar frequented by homosexuals → US homosexual sl.
1950 — WATER HOLE a bar; anywhere where alcoholic refreshment is available → sl.
1950 — WATERING HOLE a bar; anywhere where alcoholic refreshment is available → sl.
1951 — BOX-HOUSE a saloon with a theatre attached → Amer. dial.
1951 — SNEAK-IN a bar that surreptitiously remains open after the legal closing time → US sl.
1955 — CLINIC a public house → sl.
1956 — OASIS a bar → US sl.
1960 — ADVERTISING BAR a bar frequented by male prostitutes and their clients → US homosexual sl.
1960 — BATTLE AND CRUISER a public house → UK rhyming sl. for ‘boozer’
1960 — BATTLE CRUISER a public house → UK rhyming sl. for ‘boozer’
1962 — MEAT RACK a bar or other public place where people gather in search of sexual partners → US sl.
1965 — CHIPPY JOINT a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1965 — NIP JOINT an unlicensed bar → US sl.
1965 — SHINE HOUSE a speakeasy → Amer. dial.
1965 — TIGER HOUSE a place where liquor is sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1965 — WILDCAT HOUSE a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1966 — BLIND ALLEY a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1966 — BLOODY BUCKET a speakeasy; a cheap dive → Amer. dial.
1966 — BLUE GOOSE a cheap or shabby bar or other public establishment → Amer. dial.
1966 — SHINNY a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1967 — BLIND ONION a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1967 — BLIND a place where liquor was sold and consumed illegally → Amer. dial.
1969 — SINGLES BAR a bar that caters to a young, unattached clientele → US sl.
1970 — GUT BUCKET a rough and rowdy bar with rough and rowdy patrons → US sl.
1970 — JACK a bar → rhyming sl. ‘jack tar’ = bar
1970 — WRINKLE ROOM a bar, a club or that area of a club where older gay men gather →homosexual sl.
1972 — WINE SHED a bar or tavern, esp. one that features entertainment → Amer. dial.
1974 — SHOT HOUSE a place where liquor is sold by the drink → Amer. dial.
1978 — GOLD MINE an establishment that sells alcohol illegally, by the drink → US sl.
1979 — NABE a neighbourhood tavern; a local bar → US sl.
1981 — COCKTAILERY a cocktail lounge → US sl.
1981 — EARLY OPENER a public hotel that opens early in the morning to cater for shift workers → Aust. sl.
1982 — SISSY BAR a bar patronised by homosexuals → US sl.
1984 — WINE SHED a bar → US sl.
1988 — ICEHOUSE a tavern → Amer. dial.
1993 — B JOINT a bar where women coax customers to buy drinks → US sl.
1994 — SHAKERS a bar featuring topless dancers → US sl.
1997 — NIP JOINT an illegal drinking establishment where drink is sold in ‘nips’ or small measures (orig. half-pint) → US sl.
1998 — BREWPUB a bar or restaurant where beer is brewed on the premises → sl. (Bk.)
1999 — BLOODHOUSE a rough public house → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
1999 — LAMB-DOWN SHOP a public house → Aust. sl. (Bk.)
..L20 — SACKWAH a place where drinking, usually illegal or irregular, takes place → W. Indies sl.
2002 — NUCLEAR SUB a pub → rhyming sl.
2003 — CORN WHISKEY HOUSE a low-class or illegal bar or saloon; a honky-tonk → Amer. dial.
2006 — DRAFT BOARD a saloon → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 — FILL-MILL a tavern → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GARGLE FACTORY a saloon; a tavern → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GIN DIVE a saloon; a low liquor establishment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GIN MILL a saloon; a low liquor establishment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GIN PALACE a saloon; a low liquor establishment → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GUTBUCKET a cheap saloon; a low tavern → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GUZZERY a bar; a liquor store → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 — GUZZLERY a bar; a liquor store → US sl. (Bk.)
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – NOUNS – OTHER
1535 — LAWING a reckoning at a tavern; a tavern-bill → Sc.
1580 — IVY-BUSH a tavern sign
1596 — RED-LATTICE an ale-house sign → sl.
1623 — POPINATION the practice of frequenting taverns → obs.
1792 — TAVERNRY tavern expenses → Sc. obs.
.M19 — CLINKING the stealing of tankards from taverns → UK criminals’ sl.
1857 — TANSY a merrymaking in a public-house → Eng. dial.
..L19 — CAT-SNEAKING the stealing of pewter tankards from public houses → sl.
..20C — MAD DOG an unpaid score at a public house → Aust. sl.
1903 — REMAINDER the drainings of pots and glasses → sl. (Bk.)
1909 — MUSHROOM a tavern clock which gives warning as to closing time → sl. (Bk.)
1915 — PUB CRAWL a slow progress from one pub to another, drinking at each one → sl.
1930 — AFTERS after-hours drinking in a public house → Brit. sl.
1935 — RAMP a public house bar counter → UK sl.
1940 — TAB ACTION → TAB ISSUE a line of credit at a bar or any other type of business → African-American sl.
1945 — SWILL the rapid consumption of alcohol in a pub just before closing time → Aust. & NZ sl.
1955 — SIX O’CLOCK SWILL a hectic session of buying and drinking beers by men in a public bar near to closing time, which from 1916 to 1955 was, for many hotels, 6 p.m. → Aust. sl.
1959 — SIX O’CLOCK RUSH → SIX O’CLOCK SCRUM the rushed consumption of (mainly jugs of) beer between office closing and bar closing, and esp. from just before the final serving time of 6 p.m. to 6.15 p.m. when bars were cleared → NZ sl.
1967 — LOG the counter surface in a bar → US sl.
1971 — BAR-DOGGING tending bar → Amer. dial.
1987 — TABLE ZAMBONI a cleaning rag used by a bartender → US sl.
1995 — LEANER a shelf or high table in a bar provided for standing drinkers → NZ sl.
2009 — ZION CURTAIN a screen or partition, formerly in bars, later in restaurants that serve alcoholic drinks, that separates bartenders from their customers in accordance with Utah liquor laws → Amer. dial.
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – NOUNS, PERSON
1000 — TAPPER a person who taps casks or draws liquor; a tavern-keeper, an innkeeper → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
1300 — TAVERNER a tavern-keeper, an innkeeper → arch.
1361 — TABERNER a tavern-keeper; an innkeeper → Sc.
1380 — GANNEKER → GANNOKER an alehouse-keeper; a tavern-keeper → obs.
1396 — TIPPLER a retailer of ale and other intoxicating liquor; a tapster; a tavern-keeper → obs.
1400 — TAVERNER a bartender; a man who draws the beer, etc. for the customers in a public house
1425 — ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE a publican; a tapster, an innkeeper; from the colour of his apron → obs.
1534 — BENCHER a person who frequents the benches of a tavern
1600 — APRONER a bartender, a waiter → colloq.
..E17 — APRON-MAN a bartender → sl.
1602 — NICK-POT a publican → sl.
1606 — HEBE a barmaid
1608 — GANYMEDE a boy or (usually young) man who serves wine, or another alcoholic drink, as his master’s cup-bearer; later also, a boy or young man employed to serve drinks or collect glasses in a public house, bar, etc., or at an event
1611 — TAVERN-KEEPER a person who is licensed to sell liquors to be drunk, and to entertain travellers and lodgers
1614 — FAUCET a tapster → obs., contemptuous usage
1625 — NICK AND FROTH a publican → sl.
1631 — TAPSTRESS a female tapster, a bartender
1648 — TAP-LASH a publican → obs., contemptuous usage
1652 — POT-MAN a man employed in a public house; a barman
1660 — DASH a tavern waiter → sl.
1662 — POT-BOY a servant at a public-house who attends to the pots or glasses, cleaning them, carrying them out, calling them, etc. → arch.
1670 — SQUIRE OF THE GIMLET a tapster → colloq.
1674 — NECK STAMPER a tavern pot-boy; a boy who collects the pots belonging to an ale-house, sent out with beer to private houses → sl.
..L17 — QUEER BLUFFER the master of a public house; a sneaking, cut-throat innkeeper → cant
..L17 — QUEER BUFFER a sneaking, cutthroat ale-house keeper or innkeeper → sl.
1712 — BAR-KEEPER a person who keeps or manages a bar for refreshments
1717 — LUCKY a landlady of a public house or tavern; a woman who brews or sells beer → Sc.
1741 — MORT OF THE BOOZING KEN a tavern landlady → UK criminals’ sl. obs.
1778 — GIN SPINNER a distiller or retailer of spirits → hist.
1790 — BEGGAR-MAKER a publican → Eng. dial.
1790 — YILL-WIFE a woman who brews or sells ale → Sc. & N. Eng. dial.
..19C — CAD an idle hanger-on about inn-yards → Eng.
..19C — GAME PUBLICAN a publican who affects not to notice the breaking of the law → sl.
..E19 — CADDEE a person who frequents tavern yards and persuades customers to patronize another inn, for which they are paid by its landlord → sl.
..E19 — CANTEEN-KEEPER a publican → S. Afr. sl.
1810 — COVEE a professed tout to innkeepers, but one occasionally acts as a ‘smasher’ → sl.
1815 — COVEE a landlord of a public house → sl.
1821 — HABERDASHER a publican → colloq.
1821 — KNIGHT OF THE SPIGOT a publican, a tapster → sl.
1831 — GIN-SHOPPER the keeper of a gin shop (a tavern or public house selling chiefly gin) → Brit. obs.
1833 — MOTHER a public house landlady → sl.
1837 — BARMAN a bartender; a man who serves at the bar of a public-house, etc.
1841 — BEER-BOY a pot-boy; a boy or young man employed in a public house, etc., to serve drinks or collect glasses
1846 — BAR-KEEP a bartender → US colloq.
1849 — SALOON-KEEPER a saloon keeper → US
.M19 — COVE OF THE BUDGING-KEN a landlord → sl.
.M19 — MAT a public house landlady → sl.
.M19 — MIXOLOGIST a bartender, esp. as a mixer of cocktails → sl. orig. US
.M19 — TOP-YOB a pot-boy → back-slang
1855 — TABERNARIUS a tavern-keeper (Bk.)
1856 — GILL-WIFE an ale-wife; one who sells liquors → Sc. obs.
1857 — BAR-GIRL a female bartender
1858 — MIXER a bartender → Amer. sl.
1858 — MOT → MOTT → MOTTE a public house landlady → sl.
1860 — BUNG a landlord or brewer of a public house → sl.
1866 — BEER-SLINGER a bartender or waiter in a beer saloon → sl.
1866 — USEFUL a general helper, esp. in a public house → Aust. sl.
1868 — BEER-JERKER a person whose work is drawing beer from a bar tap into glasses or growlers → Amer. sl.
1870 — GIN MILLER the keeper of a gin mill (a drinking saloon or bar, esp. a disreputable or seedy one) → US colloq.
1870 — SHEBEENER a person who frequents an unlicensed drinking place → sl.
1871 — GIN SLINGER a bartender; a person who mixes gin slings or other cocktails; a bartender
1873 — YAL-WEEAN a female publican → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1873 — YAL-WIFE a female publican → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
1876 — GIN-MILLIST a bartender → US sl.
1878 — GIN-JERKER a bartender → sl.
1880 — POT-JOSTLER a bartender → Aust. sl.
1881 — BAR-BOY a bartender; a boy who serves at the bar of a public-house (Bk.)
1881 — BEER-YANKER a bartender who draws beer in a saloon → US sl.
1882 — BEER-JUGGLER a bartender → Aust. & US sl.
1882 — SALOONIST a saloon keeper → US
1883 — BEER-JUGGER a barmaid, a woman who serves in a bar → UK sl.
1883 — BOUNCER a person, usually a strong man, employed to maintain and restore order in a bar, restaurant, club or performance → US sl.
1885 — CABARETIER the keeper of a cabaret; an alehouse or tavern-keeper in France → (Bk.)
1885 — GLUCOSE-SLINGER a publican → Aust. sl.
1887 — YILL-SELLER a person who sells ale → Sc.
1888 — BAR STEWARD a bartender
1889 — ABRAHAM GRAINS a publican brewing his own beer → thieves’ sl. obs. (Bk.)
1890 — ALE DRAPER an alehouse-keeper → sl. (Bk.)
1897 — NOSE ARTST a barkeeper → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
..L19 — BUNG-STARTER a bartender → US sl.
..L19 — LAMBER-DOWN a shanty-keeper or landlord who persuades men to spend all their money on drink → Aust. & NZ sl.
..L19 — MARM POOSEY a flashily dressed public house landlady → sl.
..L19 — MARM-PUSS a flashily dressed public house landlady → sl.
1901 — SALOON SMASHER a person who practises or advocates the practice of the wrecking of drinking saloons as a protest against the liquor traffic → US sl.
1901 — SCRATCHED-MAN a person whom a publican has debarred from being served at his bar → Eng. dial.
1905 — WALLOP-MERCHANT a publican → Aust. sl.
1906 — BAR-FLY a too-frequent frequenter of bars and saloons → US sl.
1907 — BAR-DOG a bartender → US Western sl.
1907 — SWAMPER a man of all work in a saloon → Amer.
1908 — BAR-HOP a bartender → US sl.
1909 — BACK-ROW HOPPER a scrounger who frequents taverns in the hope of finding someone willing to buy them a drink → sl.
1910 — BANNALANNA a woman who sells ale over the counter → Ireland (Bk.)
1910 — BAZAAR-MAID a barmaid → Aust. sl.
1910 — PUB-CRAWLER a person who goes on a pub crawl → sl.
1911 — POT POLISHER a barmaid → Aust. sl.
1913 — MOOCHER → MOOTCHER → MOUCHER a hanger-on at a saloon → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1915 — MOPSTICK a person who does odd jobs in a bar or saloon in exchange for drinks → US
1920 — APRON a bartender → African-American sl.
1926 — BARSLAVE a bartender → US West sl.
1936 — B-GIRL a waiter or waitress who serves beer → US sl.
1936 — B-GIRL a woman employed to encourage customers to buy drinks in a bar → US sl.
1936 — EIGHTY-SIX a customer to be refused service → US sl.
1938 — SHEBEEN QUEEN the owner of an unlicensed drinking establishment → sl.
1938 — SITTER a person employed to sit in a bar and encourage other patrons to buy drinks → US sl.
1940 — MAIL a carrier for an illicit grog-shop → S. Afr. sl.
1940 — QUEEN a woman who runs an illicit township bar or shebeen → S. Afr. sl.
1942 — BARTARIAN a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — BEERTENDER a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — BOOZE HISTER a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — BOUNCER a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — BUNG a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — FIZZICAL CULTURIST a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — GAWK an inexperienced bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — JIGGER BOY a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1942 — POUR-OUT MAN a bartender → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1945 — BAR DOG a bartender → US Western usage (Bk.)
1958 — BAR TOAD a man who goes into a saloon and squats there like a toad on a rock → Amer. loggers’ usage
1962 — HEADACHE a garrulous customer → Amer. bartenders’ sl. (Bk.)
1964 — HACK a customer, as in a public house → NZ sl.
1968 — POTGIRL a person who carries drinks to the customers in a tavern or other drinking establishment (Bk.)
1968 — SHEBEEN KING the owner of an unlicensed drinking establishment → S. Afr. sl.
1970 — LIGHT-ALE BANDIT a person who scrounges drinks in a public house → UK criminals’ sl.
1971 — GIN-WRANGLER a bartender → US Western sl.
1971 — HIDE a girl in a beer joint frequented by servicemen → Amer. dial.
1980 — BAR-GIRL a woman, frequently a prostitute, used to entice customers to buy drinks at a bar → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1982 — BARISTA a bartender in an Italian or Italian-style bar
1986 — BEER JERK a bartender → US sl.
1999 — FOX a member of a drinking party who leaves the establishment without paying for his round → Aust. sl., derogatory (Bk.)
1999 — GOV’NOR → GUV’NOR a public house landlord → UK sl.
2003 — SKIMPY a topless barmaid → Aust. sl.
2013 — GLASSIE a person who collects empty glasses from bar tables → Aust. sl.
2015 — BAR-BITCH a female bartender → US Western sl.
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – PHRASES
1945 — WEARING CALLUSES ON HIS ELBOW said of a person spending his time in a saloon → US Western usage (Bk.)
1999 — DRAGGING THE CHAIN lagging behind fellow drinkers in a pub → Aust. sl., orig. shearing usage (Bk.)
DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT – VERBS
..L18 — WALK UP AGAINST THE WALL to run up credit at a public house → sl.
..L18 — WALK UP THE WALL to run up credit at a public house → sl.
..L18 — WALL IT to chalk up a debt on the wall of a public house → sl.
1820 — DAB IT UP (WITH) to run a score at a public-house
1860 — DAMP THE SAWDUST to drink with friends at the opening of a new tavern → sl.
1895 — RUN THE RABBIT to take drink (illegally) from a public house, esp. after hours → Aust. sl.
..L19 — CHARTER THE BAR to buy drinks for everyone in a bar or public house → sl.
..L19 — CHARTER THE GROCERY to buy drinks for everyone in a bar or public house → sl.
..20C — TAKE WATER to leave a bar or public house after spending all one’s cash on drink → Aust.
1904 — STRIKE A LIGHT to run up an alehouse score → sl. (Bk.)
1908 — DECORATE to pay for something at a bar → US sl.
1908 — DECORATE THE MAHOGANY to buy drinks at a bar → US sl.
1919 — RUSH THE CAN to drink freely at a bar → US sl.
1945 — SHOOT THE CROW to obtain a drink in a saloon and leave without paying → US Western sl. (Bk.)
1958 — EIGHTY-SIX to eject or bar from a premises; generally, to reject or abandon → US sl.
1964 — SHEBEEN to visit a shebeen → S. Afr. sl.
1992 — TAB OUT to pay a bar bill and leave the bar → US sl.
1995 — RUN A TAB to order drinks without paying for each one, paying instead the entire bill at the end of the session → US colloq.
Lexicophilia 