Adam's ale

English

Etymology

Attested 1643. Reference to the only drink available to Adam, the first man in the biblical tradition, while in Eden.

Noun

Adam's ale (uncountable)

1. (humorous, idiomatic) Water.

   Synonym: Adam's wine

   • 1643, William Prynne, “The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments & Kingdomes. […]”, in The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments and Kingdomes: […], London: […] Michael Sparke Senior, →OCLC, page 32:

     [T]hey have beene ſhut up in priſons and dungeons lying on the cold ground, ſtones or boards without beds, ſtraw, fire or any the leaſt refreſhment; allowed onely a poore pittance of Adams Ale, and ſcarce a penny bread a day to ſupport their lives, though their friends would provide it for them; [...]

   • 2017, Fiona Farrell, Decline and Fall on Savage Street, →ISBN, page 59:

     She had loaded Floss into the basket, tied a sugarbag containing necessities—sketch pad, pencils, corned beef sandwiches wrapped in newsprint, a bottle of water from the garden tap, the best water, the clearest, Adam's ale — to the frame of her bicycle and set off, Floss sits up in the basket, looking ahead, though of course she can't see, but her nose is up, her world a dizzy palette of smell, as clear and bright as it is to Sybil, pedalling carefully along the river and down Fitzgerald Avenue towards the hills.

Anagrams

• alamedas, salaamed