flap-dragon —
“A,”
LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 1.
38
;
“flapdragons,”
2 HENRY IV., ii. 4. 236.
“A flap-dragon is
some small combustible body, fired at one end, and put afloat in a glass of liquor. It is
an act of a toper's dexterity to toss off the glass in such a manner as to prevent the
flapdragon from doing mischief”
(JOHNSON)
. In former days gallants used to vie with each other in drinking off flapdragons to
the health of their mistresses,—which flapdragons were generally raisins, and
sometimes even candles' ends, swimming in brandy or other strong spirits, whence, when on
fire, they were snatched by the mouth and swallowed.
A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works. Alexander Dyce. Boston. Dana Estes and Company. 1904.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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