What does Bathtub Gin mean in the 1920s?

Bathtub gin refers to any style of homemade spirit made in amateur conditions. The term first appeared in 1920, in the prohibition-era United States, in reference to the poor-quality alcohol that was being made.

What were popular sayings in the 1920s?

How to Sound Like the Bee’s Knees: A Dictionary of 1920s Slang

• Applesauce. Remember how we were going on and on about malarkey, thanks to Joe Biden’s use of it in the vice presidential debate, the other week?
• Bee’s knees.
• Clam.
• Dewdropper.
• Egg.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Gams.
• Hotsy-totsy.

What were code words for alcohol in the 1920s?

Other terms for bootlegged or homemade alcohol: coffin varnish, horse liniment, stuff and tarantula juice.

What do the terms speakeasy bathtub gin and bootlegger mean?

Some people made liquor illegally in the comfort of their own homes, which is where the phrase “bathtub gin” comes from. Others turned to bootleggers and rum-runners for their fix.

Where does the phrase bathtub gin come from?

Rather, the bathtub was where ‘moonshiners’ or illegal distillers stored their spirits for lack of anywhere else to keep them hidden from view. Therefore, a more likely and correct interpretation of ‘bathtub gin’ is simply: homemade spirits made in novice conditions. We think of it as a glamourous time.

Why is bathtub gin called?

Contrary to its name, Bathtub Gin was not actually made in a bathtub. The name refers to the process of watering down the strong homemade spirit to make it more drinkable. Since bottles were too tall to fit under the spigot in a kitchen sink, at-home moonshiners used the bathtub instead.

What is the definition of bathtub gin?

Definition of bathtub gin : a homemade spirit concocted from raw alcohol, water, essences, and essential oils.

What is a bathtub gin Party?

Many party-goers died during the 1920s from drinking bathtub gin. Bathtub gin was usually created in actual bathtubs or other large containers hidden away in a bootlegger’s home. The alcohol was either purchased from other bootleggers or from legitimate medical suppliers.