bevvy slang.
(ˈbɛvɪ)
Also bevali, bevie, bevy.
[f. beverage + -y6.]
A drink, esp. beer.
| 1889 Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang I. 110/1 Bevy or bevali (common), beer; abbreviation of beverage. 1925 Fraser & Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 22 Bevvy, beer. Any drink. 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack vi. 59 ‘I think this calls for a bevvy,’ I said, and we walked off to the nearest pub together. 1960 K. Amis Take Girl like You vi. 87 Din-din. The old scoff. Bevvy too. 1963 New Statesman 18 Oct. 537/1 The police..accuse the public of a lack of civic responsibility—a phrase that's good for a laugh over a bevy. |
Hence as v. intr., to drink. So ˈbevvied a., drunk, intoxicated.
| 1934 P. Allingham Cheapjack x. 111 They just sit in the 'ouse and talk and bevvy till all the money's gone. 1960 J. MacLaren-Ross Until Day she Dies ii. 28 Lon and Carl coming backstage, both of them bevvied. 1966 ‘L. Lane’ ABZ of Scouse 8 The Scouser's favourite excuse for an act of hooliganism is I wuz bevvied. 1966 F. Shaw et al. Lern yerself Scouse 77 Ard cases who could bevvy by the jug. |