rinse-pitcher

plural rinse-pitchers

1. obsoleteA drunkard.

   What the godly Cromwell saw in this Royalist rinse-pitcher it is now difficult to assess — but he sought him for his son-in-law.

   1971, Allen Andrews, The Royal Whore: Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, page 9

   1 more example

   Rince Pytcher is he that will drinke out his thrift at the ale or wine, and be oft times dronke. This is a licoryce knaue that will swill his Maisters drink, and brybe his meate that is kept for him.

   [1561, John Awdely, “The Orders of Knaues”, in The Fraternitye of Vacabondes; republished in Edward Viles, Frederick James Furnivall, editors, Awdeley's Fraternitye of Vacabondes, Harman's Caveat, Haben's Sermon, &c, London: Early English Text Society, 1869, page 13

   Synonyms: squeeze-grape, swill-pot, toper