gin and French

English

Alternative forms

• gin-and-French

Etymology

From the use of French as a shortened form of French vermouth, distinguished as being usually drier than Italian vermouth.

Noun

gin and French (plural gin and Frenches or gins and French or gins and Frenches)

1. A cocktail of gin and dry vermouth.
   • 1930, Ethel Mannin, Confessions & Impressions, page 177:

     Tearle replied that gin-and-French and virginian cigarettes would do for him.

References

• Fowler's Modern English Usage, s.v. "plural anomalies".