Aquabib

Pronunciation

• IPA: /æk.wÉ™.bɪb/

Origin

Based on Latin aqua ("water") + bibere, infinitive of bibō ("to drink")

Full definition of aquabib

Noun

1. (very rare, obsolete, derogatory) A teetotaler; one who does not consume alcohol.
• 1883, The Louisville Medical News: a weekly journal of medicine and surgery: Volumes 15-16 , and aquabibs are epithets bestowed by the champions of alcohol in London upon the temperance folk.
• 1949, Julia Cooley Altrocchi, The spectacular San Franciscans, Dwight L. Moody and John B. Gough, the great aquabib, had commanded attention ...
• 1966, Robert Arnold Aubin, Topographical poetry in XVII-century Eng, While its more sober counterpart was directed to quite different ends by a pugnacious aquabib, William Henry Draper

Usage notes

Proposed circa 1883 as a slur for members of the temperance movement, who would not drink alcohol.