switchel n also switchel tea. Cp DAE ~ 'a drink of molasses and water often seasoned with vinegar and ginger' (1790-); OED swizzle 'various compounded intoxicating drinks' (1813-). Tea, esp that once drunk by fishermen and sealers at sea.
1897 J A Folklore x. 211 ~ a mug of weak tea given to the sailors between meals when at the seal fishing. 1924 ENGLAND 50 Some were devouring beans and salt meat; others, gulping tea that steamed. 'Switchel,' this tea was: that is. boiled-over tea whereto now and again fresh leaves are added. 1927 Christmas Messenger 47 ~ cold tea, not strong, sweetened with molasses. The word is used in contempt, as 'I had a miserable drop of "switchel" for breakfast this morning.' P 20-55 ~ tea which is not just steeped, but which has been boiled. [1959] 1965 PEACOCK (ed) iii. 898 "Young Chambers": [of men in jail] For butter and molasses we did not get a mite- . . / Then at four o'clock in the morning we're looking out for day, / We're heaving out of our hammocks for a cup of switchel tea. P 48-60 ~ weak, cold, left-over tea. P 118-66 This tea is not bad but the stuff next door is switchel. 1973 HORWOOD 40 ~ is a fisherman's name for tea without milk and sweetened with molasses.
