Bevvy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛvi/

Definitions

1. An informal word for a serving of beer or another alcoholic drink ; a gathering or group of companions or friends
2. A casual term referring to any alcoholic beverage ; a crowd or assembly of people spending time together
3. A slang expression for an alcoholic drink, especially beer ; a collective group of friends or associates

Etymology: Bevvy is a clipping of "beverage" with the diminutive suffix "-y" added, the same playful shortening that turned "hanky" from "handkerchief" and "telly" from "television." Chopping a long, formal word down to its first syllables and adding "-y" is a common British pattern for casual speech, and it is what gives the term its chummy, pub-counter feel. The clipped form has taken on a meaning that drifts away from "beverage" itself. In its most common use it refers to beer specifically, so a night out with a "bevvy" usually means a few pints rather than any drink in general. The same clipping has also been extended to a group of friends or associates, a sense that shows how easily a word for "what we drink together" can slide into "the people we drink with."

Synonyms: beverage, drink, libation, refreshment, brew

Antonyms: dryness, thirst, dehydration, emptiness, void