gin blossom

Noun

gin blossom (plural gin blossoms)

1. (slang) Vascular rosacea caused or exacerbated by excessive consumption of alcohol.
   • "Red Monkey": a Hundi slur, originally an allusion to the gin-blossom-encrusted faces of British colonial administrators1993 November, “Naked City”, in Spy, page 26
   • One man had a gin blossom nose and a huge gut, another piercing blue eyes set off by deep-set wrinkles.2010, Jeania Kimbrough, Van Diemen at 17, page 241
2. A female alcoholic.
   • She was an alcoholic old biddy, a "gin blossom”, who was venturing out on the streets past 10:00 PM alone because she had to get another bottle, to hold her over until morning, when she would probably go and get another bottle.2003, Steven H. Propp, Beyond Heaven and Earth, page 600
   • Now, what do you say, my little gin blossom?2014, Suzanne Hayes, Loretta Nyhan, Empire Girls, page 159
3. A cocktail composed of gin and fruit juice (usually peach, apricot, orange, and/or lime).
   • Hastily she poured another gin blossom.1961, Charles Beardsley, The Naked Hills: Some Tales of Afghanistan, page 212
   • Reagan, perhaps because of his father's severe alcoholism, was not much of drinker, preferring a weak gin blossom at the White House when the occasion called for coctails.2005, Steven F. Hayward, Greatness
4. A metaphoric flower associated with heavy drinking.
   • "Well, I suppose you want a drop of gin for that thing?" she said. "Hand it over; I am very fond of flowers." "Specially gin blossoms," said the costermonger, in a rather loud whisper.1869, Jenny's Geranium, page 64
   • In the case of Mrs. Mollie Carroll and Randy Thomas, the flower of romance was a gin blossom.1934, Mark Hellinger, The Ten Million