suck the monkey

English

Verb

suck the monkey (third-person singular simple present sucks the monkey, present participle sucking the monkey, simple past and past participle sucked the monkey)

1. (naval slang) To surreptitiously drink alcohol from a cask through an inserted tube.

   Synonym: bleed the monkey

   • 1847 January 31, “Lyceum Theatre”, in The Observer, London: William [Innell] Clement, →OCLC, page 5, column 3:

     A new farce, called "The Wigwam," was produced at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday night. [...] As might naturally be expected, Cora has another lover, one Mingo (Mr. Oxberry), known as the "Monkey's Uncle," from his habit of "sucking the monkey."

2. (slang) To drink from a coconut filled surreptitiously with rum, etc.