distill

[Cacasenno]

DISTILL

VARIANT FORM distil

VERB Inflected forms: dis·tilled also dis·tilled, dis·till·ing, dis·til·ling, dis·tills, dis·tils

TRANSITIVE VERB 1. To subject (a substance) to distillation. 2. To separate (a distillate) by distillation. 3. To increase the concentration of, separate, or purify by or as if by distillation. 4. To separate or extract the essential elements of: distill the crucial points of the book. 5. To exude or give off (matter) in drops or small quantities.

INTRANSITIVE VERB 1. To undergo or be produced by distillation. 2. To fall or exude in drops or small quantities.

ETYMOLOGY Middle English distillen, from Old French distiller, from Latin distillre, variant of dstillre, to trickle : d-, de- + stillre, to drip (from stilla, drop).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.


And that's why we say have a drop of whisk(e)y and not have a set of whisk(e)y, I guess

[Perry]

Give me a Bowmore 25 year old, and I'll take more than a drop, I assure you.

[Slava]

Dis is a heist. Ya gonna open dis till, or what?


And, on a personal note, I prefer a healthy splash of whisky (Sorry, American Bourbon) to a drop.

[gailr]

Dis is a heist. Ya gonna open dis till, or what?

[Perry]

Good to see a sign of life from Gail!

[sluggo]

Why Slava, I didn't know you had it in you. I'll be drammed.

"Drop" to mean an infinite number thereof feels like an Irishism. Surely other samples of understatement where ubertyis meant may trickle in if we consider:

a bite to eat
a little bit of 'this' (rubbing fingers together)
a word with you for just one second
and of course, to have a pint or give the fiddler a dram

[Slava]

There is also the "wee bit of the creature" that pops up now and then.

[Perry]

Why Slava, I didn't know you had it in you. I'll be drammed.

"Drop" to mean an infinite number thereof feels like an Irishism. Surely other samples of understatement where ubertyis meant may trickle in if we consider:

a bite to eat
a little bit of 'this' (rubbing fingers together)
a word with you for just one second
and of course, to have a pint or give the fiddler a dram

Nice to recall the uberty thread. Sad to remember that Tim Ward and the Brazillian Dude have not shared the uberty of their intellect with us in ages.

[sluggo]

Yeah, isn' t it? "Give me uberty or give me dearth" is a line that has plowed a deep groove in the cottonfield of my head. One that may never be topped.