white tape
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Gin.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
gin,—term used principally by female servants. See RIBBON.
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 “white tape” mean?
Gin.
Is “white tape” formal or informal?
white tape is generally slang.