Chirping Cup
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A merry-making glass or cup of liquor. Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, or makes him sing for joy. A chirping cup is my matin song, And my vesper bell is my bowl; Ding dong!
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Chirping Cup” mean?
A merry-making glass or cup of liquor. Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, or makes him sing for joy. A chirping cup is my matin song, And my vesper bell is my bowl; Ding dong!
Is “Chirping Cup” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.