Word of the day: settle-brain

[sawyl]

Skimming through this article, I happened across a completely wonderful old word for coffee: settle-brain. Here it is in context in The Women's Petition Against Coffee from 1674:

Only a Pimp to the Tavern, a relishing soop preparative to a fresh debauch: For when people have swill'd themelves with a morning draught of more Ale than brewers horse can carry, hither they come for a pennyworth of Settle-brain... and after an hours impertinent Chat, begin to consider a bottle of Claret would do excellent well before Dinner; whereupon to the Bush they all march together, till every one of them is Drunk as a Drum, and then back again to the Coffee-House to drink themselves sober."

I also love the term "drunk as a drum", but not quite as much as I love settle-brain which I now plan to use on every possible occasion.