ale-knight

English

Noun

ale-knight (plural ale-knights)

1. (obsolete) A drinking companion.
   • a. 1654, “The Answer of Ale to the Challenge of Sack”, in The Works of the English Poets, volume 6, London: J. Johnson, et al, published 1810, page 208:

     Come, all you brave wights, / That are dubbed ale-knights, / Now set out yourselves in sight; / And let them that crack / In the praises of sack, / Know malt is of mickle might.

   • 1864, Robert Chambers, “November 20”, in Chambers Book of Days, page 597:

     Payne, for a long time, lived and worked alone in his filthy den; but towards the close of his career, he took in, as a fellow-labourer, an excellent workman named Weir. This man was a regularly 'dubbed ale-knight,' loved barley-wine to the full as much as his partner, and used to sing: […]