Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

tipple

verb tip·ple \ ˈti-pəl \
Updated on: 28 Feb 2018
See What's Trending Now See More Trending Words

Definition of tipple

tippled; tippling play \ˈti-p(ə-)liŋ\
intransitive verb
: to drink liquor especially by habit or to excess
transitive verb
: to drink (liquor) especially continuously in small amounts
—

tippler

play \ˈti-p(ə-)lər\ noun

See tipple defined for English-language learners

See tipple defined for kids

Examples of tipple in a Sentence

  1. I do tipple now and then.

Origin and Etymology of tipple

back-formation from obsolete tippler alehouse keeper, from Middle English tipler
2

tipple

noun

Definition of tipple

1 : drink 1
2 : drink 2

First Known Use of tipple

1581

3

tipple

noun

Definition of tipple

1 : a place where or an apparatus by which cars (as for coal) are loaded or emptied
2 : a coal-screening plant

Origin and Etymology of tipple

English dialect tipple to tip over, frequentative of English 1tip

TIPPLE Defined for English Language Learners

tipple

verb

Definition of tipple for English Language Learners

  • : to drink alcohol

Learn More about tipple

  1. See words that rhyme with tipple Spanish Central: Translation of tipple Nglish: Translation of tipple for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tipple for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up tipple? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

embarrass

play

to make (someone) feel or look foolish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. lowlife 'a person of low moral character'

  2. kakistocracy 'government by the worst people'

  3. slimeball 'a morally repulsive or odious person'

  4. salacious 'arousing or appealing to sexual desire'

  5. oligarch 'government in which a small group exercises control'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

tipple

Test Your Vocabulary

More Confusing Words—Quiz

  • cats-on-impossible-timber
  • The magician ______ moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-5ad77fad37d22
What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix?’

We can thank Beetle Bailey.

alt-5ad76a1542e73
'Altho' vs. 'Although'

Altho doesn't get much love.

alt-5ad635a571736
A Brief History of 'Potshot'

Duck, or you might be dinner

alt-5ad5fb45b0494
What Is a 'Thirst Trap'?

A tall drink of water

Ask the Editors

image1760257654
2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally
Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her
Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

cats-on-impossible-timber
More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz
name-that-thing-toys-and-games-edition
Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition

It's all fun and games until someone beats your high score.

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: tipple in a Sentence