Adam's ale

Adam's ale
Adam Ad"am, n. 1. The name given in the Bible to the first man, the progenitor of the human race. [1913 Webster]

2. (As a symbol) ``Original sin;'' human frailty. [1913 Webster]

And whipped the offending Adam out of him. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Adam's ale}, water. [Coll.]

{Adam's apple}.

1. (Bot.) (a) A species of banana ({Musa paradisiaca}). It attains a height of twenty feet or more. --Paxton. (b) A species of lime ({Citris limetta}).

2. The projection formed by the thyroid cartilage in the neck. It is particularly prominent in males, and is so called from a notion that it was caused by the forbidden fruit (an apple) sticking in the throat of our first parent.

{Adam's flannel} (Bot.), the mullein ({Verbascum thapsus}).

{Adam's needle} (Bot.), the popular name of a genus ({Yucca}) of liliaceous plants. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • adam's ale — (dated, humorous) water …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Adam's ale — noun Water. They have beene shut up in prisons and dungeons [...] allowed onely a poore pittance of Adams Ale, and scarce a penny bread a day to support their lives. Syn: Adams wine …   Wiktionary

  • Adam's ale — Meaning Water. Origin Supposedly the only drink available to the biblical character Adam the brewing industry was presumably not then established …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • adam's ale — noun Usage: usually capitalized 1st A Etymology: after the biblical Adam; from its being provided by nature and thus presumably being the only drink in the Garden of Eden : water …   Useful english dictionary

  • Adam's ale — Facetious. water. [1635 45] * * * …   Universalium

  • adam's ale — water, drink that imparts life …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Adam's ale — Water! …   Scottish slang

  • Adam's ale — noun dated, humorous water …   English new terms dictionary

  • Adam's ale — m1Noun. Water …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • Adam's ale — /ædəmz ˈeɪl/ (say aduhmz ayl) noun Colloquial water …  

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