warmer-upper

Noun

warmer-upper (plural warmer-uppers)

1. An act of warming up (preparing for an activity).
   • The cadence exercises which follow are “warmer-uppers.” They are especially planned to prime your heart, muscles, and circulatory system for a step-up in activity. Gradually, easily, they get your body set for the big job ahead.1943, FM 35–20: War Department: W. .A. .C. Field Manual: Physical Training, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, page 28
   • Such clubs, or the specially weighted head covers placed on conventional clubs, certainly have a useful function; they are primarily warmer-uppers, or the golf version of the two or three bats a baseball player uses just before he steps into the batting box.1962, Paul Runyan, Paul Runyan’s Book for Senior Golfers
2. A drink that warms one up.
   • I seldom drink brandy as brandy, but I have two favorite warmer-uppers for bitter weather, and was making them both for guests last week when school vacation sehedules^([sic]) permitted us a few extra days in the country.1968 January 12, Ruth Ellen Church, “Warmer-Uppers to Combat Bitter Weather”, in Chicago Tribune, 121st year, number 12, section 2, page 2
   • Everyone was drinking warmer-uppers when we arrived—it was a cash bar, a big moneymaker, with quality liquors, Chivas and Crown Royal, though the wine was served from jugs and the beer was Bud.2003, Meg Waite Clayton, chapter 36, in The Language of Light, Ballantine Books, published 2011, page 268
3. A worn item that warms one up.
   • Warmer-Uppers for Nippy Nights—UNIVERSAL Pajamas[…]UNIVERSAL Pajamas are real “warmer-uppers” that make ideal gifts.1944 November 20, Life, volume 17, number 21, page 21
   • By night you’ll slumber like lumber in your B.V.D. ski or Down’s pajamas.[…]Play it cozy … laugh at the cold weather that’s ahead … see your B.V.D. dealer for those wonderful “warmer-uppers” today!1948, Collier’s, page 62