tipsy (adj.)

1570s, from tip (v.1); compare drowsy, flimsy, tricksy. Later associated with tipple. Tipsy-cake (1806) was stale cake saturated with wine or liquor.

Entries linking to tipsy

tip (v.1)

c. 1300, "to knock down, overturn, topple, knock askew" (transitive), of uncertain origin, possibly from Scandinavian (compare Swedish tippa "to tip, dump"), or from a special use of tip (n.). Intransitive sense of "to fall over, be overturned" is from mid-15c. Related: Tipped; tipping. To tip the scales at "weigh (so much" is from 1879. Tipping point attested by 1972. To tip (one's) hand "reveal one's intentions" is from 1907, an image from poker-playing.

tipple (v.)

c. 1500 (implied in tippling), "sell alcoholic liquor by retail," of unknown origin, possibly from a Scandinavian source (such as Norwegian dialectal tipla "to drink slowly or in small quantities"). Meaning "drink (alcoholic beverage) too much" is first attested 1550s. Related: Tippled.

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updated on February 10, 2014

Definitions of tipsy from WordNet

tipsy (adj.)

slightly intoxicated;

Synonyms: potty / tiddly

tipsy (adj.)

unstable and prone to tip as if intoxicated;

a tipsy boat

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near tipsy

tippet

tipple

tippler

tipstaff

tipster

tipsy

tiptoe

tip-top

tirade

tiramisu

tire