1872 Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (Mixellany)

158 Cups, 8fc. The ampulla (or vessel for carrying the wine) was covered with leather, and may justly claim to be the original " leathern bottel." These " bottels " were very different affairs to the tankards of leather known as "Black Jacks/' one or more of which are still preserved at the Hospital of the Holy Cross, near Winchester. The origin of the term " bumper " is ascribed to the French phrase " bon pere," or boon companion. "If it be true, good wine needs no bush." The derivation of this term is owing to the ancient custom of the Romans hanging a branch of ivy, a plant sacred to Bacchus, over the wine- shop door, and hence their proverb, " Vendible wine needs no ivy hung up." This custom has been adopted in many wine countries. Bosky, or boosy, is undoubtedly an allusion to a familiar acquaintance with the friendly shade of the bush, where, " in his cup, the boosy poet sings." Pegging away is derived from the peg tankard which held 2 quarts of ale, studded with a row of 8 pins at equal distances, so as to allow a J pint between each pin ; hence the phrase, also, of a man in his cups being a peg higher or lower. " I wish that his soul in heaven may dwell "Whofirst invented the leathern bottel."