Adam's Ale, or sometimes simply Adam, and in Scotland Adam's Wine.--A colloquialism of long standing for water, humorously suggesting that anything stronger was unknown to our first parents. Duncombe wittily adds a comment that our first father's drink is best with brandy. This also would appear to be the view taken in most of the French and German equivalents.
Eng. Synonyms. Fish broth; aqua pompaginis.
French. Anisette de barbillon (a popular term); essence de parapluie (popular: lit. essence of umbrella); l'Adam's ale (a literal translation of the English term); limonade (popular: a caustic comment surely upon the virtues of lemonade); lance (popular and thieves': this term also does duty for 'rain'; properly written l'ance, derived from the Spanish Germania ansia, itself an abbreviation of angustia, an allusion to the employment of water as a means of torture); sirop or ratafia de grenouilles (popular: lit. syrup of frogs); sirop de l'aiguière (popular: lit. pitcher syrup); sirop de baromètre (popular, barometer syrup).
German Gaunersprache. Gänsewein (lit. goose-wine).
Italian Fourbesque. Lenza (the remarks on French lance quoted above, apply equally here).
1643. Prynne, Sov. Power of Parl., II., 32. They have been shut up in prisons and dungeons ... allowed onely a poore pittance of Adam's ale, and scarce a penny bread a day to support their lives. [m.]
1786-9. Wolcot [P. Pindar], Lousiad, c. ii., line 453.
Old Adam's beverage flows with pride, From wide-mouth'd pitchers, in a plenteous tide.
1884. Daily Telegraph, April 1, p. 5, col. 2. The spectral banquet graced now only by Adam's ale, or the sick-room toast and water.
1886. John Coleman, Elfie, pt. I., ch. ii. For my part, I stuck to Adam's ale, which Elfie brought from the spring.
Adam Tiler, subs. (old slang).--A pickpocket's associate; one who receives stolen goods, and then runs off with them. [From Adam, an accomplice + tiler, a watchman. Cf., Masonic term.] For synonyms, see Fence.
Added to the List (racing).--An abbreviation of 'added to the list of geldings in training.' Among French thieves, désatiller is the term employed to signify castration; or, where the operation is performed upon a man, abélardiser, i.e., to mutilate a man, as Chanoine Fulbert mutilated Abélard, the lover of his daughter or niece, Héloise.
Addition, subs. (old).--A term for various toilet requisites, used by women; such as paint, rouge, powder, etc.
1704. Centlivre, Platonick Love, Act iii., Scene 1. Milliner. Be pleased to put on the addition madam. Mrs. Dowdy. What does she mean now? to pull my skin off, mehap, next. Ha, Peeper, are these your London fashions? Peeper. No, no, addition is only paint, madam.
Addition, Division, and Silence! phr. (American).--A Philadelphia expression, which, for a time, had a vogue as a catch phrase. It is properly rendered MULTIPLICATION, DIVISION, and silence! William M. Tweed, or as he is more familiarly known 'Boss' Tweed, is generally credited with this expression. Being asked what in
