gin-sling
[f. gin n.2 + sling n.2]
An American cold drink composed of gin, etc. flavoured and sweetened.
| 1790 J. Baxter Jrnl. 19 Feb. in Amer. Speech (1965) XL. 199 Drank a gin sling with him at fat Simmon's. 1837, 1843 [see cocktail 3 a]. 1839 Marryat Diary Amer. Ser. i. I. 105 Punch, gin slings, cocktails, mint julips. 1864 Tovey Brit. & For. Spirits 105 The American summer drink, Gin Sling is prepared thus: Gin and water, sweetened with pounded white sugar, in which are stuck leaves of fresh gathered mint. 1938 G. Greene Brighton Rock v. i. 192 They use their own eggs in the gin slings. 1943 N. Coward Middle East Diary 15 Aug. (1944) 49 Sipping Gin-Slings and cocktails. |
Hence gin-slinger, (a) a bar-tender, from his mixing the drinks; (b) a gin-drinker.
| 1887 N.Y. Voice Extra 1 Sept., Saloon-keepers and white-aproned gin-slingers stood in the doors of the saloons. 1889 Farmer Americanisms, Gin slinger, a tippler whose favorite beverage is gin. |