fuddlecap

plural fuddlecaps

1. obsoleteSomeone who drinks alcoholic beverages too freely.First known use 17ᵗʰ—19ᵗʰ centuries.

   1666, S.W., “A Paraphrase upon the first Ode” in The Poems of Horace consisting of Odes, Satyres, and Epistles, rendred in English verse by several persons, London: Henry Brome, p. 3, The Fuddlecap, whose God’s the Vyne, Lacks not the Sun if he have Wine;

   3 more examples

   The num’rous throng of Fuddle-Caps, that here Promiscuously before the Bar appear, On others ruine have themselves enrich’d, And with their charming Juice the World bewitch’d.

   1700, Edward Ward, A Journey to Hell, or, A Visit Paid to the Devil, London, Part 2, Canto 8, p. 23

   […] it is a broken and witless Sentence, such as Fuddlecaps utter by halves, when the Wine’s in, and the Wit’s out.

   1728, Thomas Woolston, A Fourth Discourse on the Miracles of our Saviour, London: for the author, page 33

   “[…] Here, fuddle-cap,” he continued, giving her some brandy, “drink, and then tell me the best news you have […].”

   1840, William Mudford, chapter 11, in Stephen Dugard, volume 1, London: R. Bentley, page 122

   Synonyms: bibber, tippler