Having often put on my best Jorkens voice (á la Lord Dunsany -The
Collected Jorkens, Vol. 1: The Travel Tales of Mr. Joseph Jorkens and
Jorkens Remembers Africa) of an eve, as I recall my Antarctic
adventures with my colleagues at the Club, one often desires a snifter
of Pimms. Indeed the desire for a snifter was overwhelming at times,
amidst the acrid pipe smoke, as we reflected upon our days in the
colonies etc. etc. However, this gave rise to the most peculiar
situation - this being the 21st Century and all that rot, we weren't
exactly sure what a late-C19th/early C-20th snifter of Pimms was - but
is sounded right! So here, for those in the know(and those who wish to
join our secret society), I now reveal the exact meaning of these
words - to be announced in ones most plummy Empire accent for that
preprandial occasion after a hard day's Antarctic Adventuring:
snifter ˈsnɪftə
noun
a footed glass that is wide at the bottom and tapers to the top, used
for brandy and other drinks.
snifter
• informal a small quantity of an alcoholic drink : care to join me
for a snifter?
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: imitative; compare with dialect snift
Pimm's
noun noun
trademark a gin-based alcoholic drink, served typically with lemonade
or soda water and fresh mint.
ORIGIN early 20th cent.: from the name of the proprietor of the
restaurant where the drink was created.
The phrase can be announced: "Great Scott, I need a snifter of Pimms!"
shortly before mealtime or after escaping a crevasse or other dramatic
moments. Regrettably the Sørensen Hut has a shortage (well, total
absence to be exact) of both Snifters and Pimms, but it is the
sentiment that is most important.
- Peter Morse
1 comment:
I should jolly well give that wallah of yours a sound thrashing what! Imagine! I mean! Overlooking the occasional snifter can be understood under the circumstances. But running out of Pimms! Simply not cricket. Be a good fellow and pass the vodka and rattan would you old bean?
Post a Comment