wet
Preserved but no longer current.
To drink. Low people generally ask an acquaintance to WET any recently purchased article, i.e., to stand treat on the occasion. "WET (originally WHET, to sharpen,) your whistle," i.e., take a drink; "WET the other eye," i.e., take another glass. See SHED A TEAR.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
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 “wet” mean?
To drink. Low people generally ask an acquaintance to WET any recently purchased article, i.e., to stand treat on the occasion. "WET (originally WHET, to sharpen,) your whistle," i.e., take a drink; "WET the other eye," i.e., take another glass. See SHED A TEAR.
Is “wet” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.