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In course of time it also became the practice to call for a pint or tankard of _three-threads_, meaning a third of ale, beer, and two-penny; and thus the publican had the trouble to go to three casks, and turn three cocks, for a pint of liquor.
A Treatise on Adulterations of Food, and Culinary Poisons Exhibiting the Fraudulent Sophistications of Bread, Beer, Wine, Spiritous Liquors, Tea, Coffee, Cream, Confectionery, Vinegar, Mustard, Pepper, Cheese, Olive Oil, Pickles, and Other Articles Employed in Domestic Economy Friedrich Christian Accum 1803
missanthropist commented on the word three-threads
A corruption of 'three~thirds'. It denoted a draught, once popular, made up of a third each of ale, beer, and 'two~penny', in contradistinction to 'half~and~half'. This beverage was superseded in 1722 by the very similar porter, or 'entire'.
Robert Chambers, Encyclopedia, 1874
February 4, 2009
Gammerstang commented on the word three-threads
(noun) - (1) A corruption of three-thirds, it denoted a draught, once popular, made up of a third each of ale, beer and "two-penny," in contradistinction to "half-and-half." This beverage was superseded in 1722 by the very similar porter, or "entire." --Robert Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1874 (2) Half common ale, and the rest stout or double beer. --B.E.'s Dictionary of the Canting Crew, 1699 (3) Porter was last brewed in the British Isles in Dublin in 1973. The last draughts of the brew were consumed, in true Irish style, at a wake for porter, which was held in a country pub near Belfast in May of that year. The mourners wore black bowlers, downed the porter, and consigned its container in a coffin draped in "Guinness black." --Michael Jackson's The World Guide to Beer, 1977
April 22, 2018