four-half

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A drink of half ale, half porter, originally costing fourpence a quart.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

At nine o'clock that night Darkey was still consuming four-half, and relating certain adventures by sea which, he averred, had happened to himself.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “four-half” mean?

A drink of half ale, half porter, originally costing fourpence a quart.

Is “four-half” formal or informal?

four-half is generally slang.