monkey pump

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

Meaning · English

A straw inserted through a gimlet-hole into a cask for the purpose of covertly taking sips of the contents.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “monkey pump” mean?

A straw inserted through a gimlet-hole into a cask for the purpose of covertly taking sips of the contents.

Is “monkey pump” formal or informal?

monkey pump is generally slang.