cinder

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Any liquor used in connexion with soda-water, as to "take a soda with a CINDER in it." The cinder may be sherry, brandy, or any other liquor.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “cinder” mean?

Any liquor used in connexion with soda-water, as to "take a soda with a CINDER in it." The cinder may be sherry, brandy, or any other liquor.

Is “cinder” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.