stirrup cup

stirrup cup
1. farewell drink, esp. one offered to a rider already mounted for departure.
2. an ornamental cup or bowl for such a drink.
[1675-85]

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      originally a drink offered to a man mounted on horseback and about to depart for the hunt; now, the drinking vessel itself. Commonly connected with hunting, many of the cups are made of silver and engraved with mottoes taken from the chase. They are usually in the form of a fox's head or, more rarely, the head of a greyhound or hare.

      Many stirrup cups survive from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and their popularity as collector's items has led to their continued production by modern silversmiths. In glass the stirrup cup took the form of a footless wineglass.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Stirrup cup — Stirrup Stir rup, n. [OE. stirop, AS. stigr[=a]p; st[=i]gan to mount, ascend + r[=a]p a rope; akin to G. stegreif a stirrup. [root]164. See {Sty}, v. i., and {Rope}.] 1. A kind of ring, or bent piece of metal, wood, leather, or the like,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • stirrup cup — n. 1. Archaic a farewell drink taken by a rider mounted to depart 2. any farewell drink …   English World dictionary

  • Stirrup Cup — A Stirrup Cup is a parting cup given by the Scottish Highlanders to guests when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups. In colloquial Highland Scots, by a borrowing from the Gaelic, the host may well, in inviting his guest to stay… …   Wikipedia

  • stirrup cup — noun Date: 1681 1. a small serving of drink (as wine) taken by a rider about to depart; also the vessel in which it is served 2. a farewell cup …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • stirrup-cup — stir·rup cup (stûrʹəp kŭp , stĭrʹ ) n. A farewell drink, especially for a rider who is mounted to depart. * * * …   Universalium

  • stirrup cup — Synonyms and related words: Godspeed, Mickey, Mickey Finn, adieu, aloha, aperitif, chaser, cocktail, conge, doch an dorrach, drink, eye opener, farewell, good bye, highball, knockout drops, leave, leave taking, mixed drink, nightcap, parting,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • STIRRUP CUP —    a parting cup given by the Highlanders to guests when they are leaving and have their feet in the stirrups …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • stirrup cup — n. (In Scotland and Ireland) deoch an doruis, doch an dorris, farewell drink, parting drink; cup in which such drink is served …   English contemporary dictionary

  • stirrup cup — stir′rup cup n. farewell drink, esp. one offered to a rider already mounted for departure • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • stirrup cup — noun an alcoholic drink offered to a person on horseback who is about to depart …   English new terms dictionary

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