16 minutes ago, lindag said:Funny the use of the word 'neat' to describe a drink. I've always wondered how that came about.
Actually that meaning is the oldest. The first recorded meaning of 'neat' was 'Clean; free from dirt or impurities (1542).' It only took until 1579 for this meaning to be used specifically to describe an unadulterated drink.
Quote1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 191 The Wine that runneth on the lees, is not therefore to be accompted neate bicause it was drawne of the same peece.
By the 15th and 16th onwards centuries it was common.
Quote
1649 Roberts Clavis Bibl. 80 Thou didst drink wine both pure and neate. 1686 tr. Chardin's Trav. Persia 124 She saw me mix water with my wine,‥she and her women drank it neat. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 264 ⁋5 The Hogsheads of Neat Port came safe. 1762 Lloyd Poet Wks. (1774) II. 6 Will you pour out to English swine, Neat as imported, old Greek wine? 1815 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 68 Accustomed to drink neat spirits. 1851 Mayhew Lond. Labour I. 359/2, I was obliged to drink rum; it wouldn't ha done to ha drunk the water neat. 1876 Besant & Rice Gold. Butterfly i, I should take a small glass of brandy neat.
What is really funny is that later 'neat' came to mean what it more generally does today - tidy or well presented.
