different between carouse vs quaff

English

Etymology

From Middle French carousser (“to quaff, drink, swill”), from German gar aus (literally “quite out”), from gar austrinken (“to drink up entirely, guzzle”). Compare German Garaus.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /k???a?z/
• Rhymes: -a?z

Verb

carouse (third-person singular simple present carouses, present participle carousing, simple past and past participle caroused)

1. (intransitive) To engage in a noisy or drunken social gathering. [from 1550s]

2. (intransitive) To drink to excess.

Derived terms

• carousal
• carrousel

Translations

Noun

carouse (plural carouses)

1. A large draught of liquor.
   • 1600, William Kempe, Kemps nine daies vvonder, page 4–5:

     […] therefore forward I went with my hey-de-gaies to Ilford, where I againe re?ted, and was by the people of the towne and countrey there-about very very wel welcomed, being offred carow?es in the great ?poon, one whole draught being able at that time to haue drawne my little wit drye; […]

   • 1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued

2. A drinking match; a carousal.
   • 1835, Richard Gooch, Oxford and Cambridge Nuts to Crack (page 25)

     PORSON […] would not only frequently “steal a few hours from the night,” but see out both lights and liquids, and seem none the worse for the carouse.

References

Anagrams

• acerous

English

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin. Suggestions include connection with Old Irish cuäch (“cup, goblet, bowl; cauldron, large vessel; bowl, cup”) (whence Scots quaich, queff). The noun is derived from the verb.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kw?f/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kw?f/, /kw?f/
• Rhymes: -?f

Verb

quaff (third-person singular simple present quaffs, present participle quaffing, simple past and past participle quaffed)

1. To drink or imbibe with vigour or relish; to drink copiously; to swallow in large draughts. [from mid-16th c.]
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew i 2

     Please ye we may contrive this afternoon, / And quaff carouses to our mistress' health

   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost Book V

     They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet

     Quaff immortality and joy […]

   • 1852, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dr. Heidegger's Experiment

     Even while quaffing the third draught of the Fountain of Youth, they were almost awed by the expression of his mysterious visage.

Translations

Noun

quaff (plural quaffs)

1. The act of quaffing; a deep draught. [from late 16th c.]

Synonyms

• chug
• gulp
• swig
• See also Thesaurus:drink

Etymology 2

Noun

quaff

1. Misspelling of coif.