Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) a small measure of spirits; thus the drink itself (see cit. 1892).

1835		Sydney Gaz. 1 Dec. 3/1: Mr. Stroud, of Pitt-street, deposed, that having taken a nobbler of brandy, (and that was plain English) the day before, he had employed the prisoner to wash out a room for him.
1842		Sydney Herald 19 May 2/7: A wag enquired whether Mr Tegg […] was endeavouring to escape the licensing act by an admixture of a little salt and at the same time selling ‘nobblers’ instead of glasses for Her Majesty’s lieges’ sixpences .
1843		Satirist & Sporting Chron. (Sydney) 4 Feb. 2/1: The worthy member [...] was observed taking what is termed a ‘tightener’ at an oyster stall [...] following it up with a ‘nobbler’ at the London Tavern.
1845		Bell’s Life in Sydney 27 Dec. 2/5: Jane Smith, whose countenance bore ample testimony to its sufferance from the heat of the sun in the rocky regions, together with a penchant for an ‘odd nobler’ [sic].
1847		Bell’s Life in Sydney 20 Nov. 2/2: [He] merely allowed the prisoner tick for four nobblers.
1852		G.F.P. [George Ferrers Pickering] Gold Pen and Pencil Sketches canto xiv: The summit gained, he pulls up at the Valley, / To drain a farewell ‘nobbler’ to his Sally.
1867		Grey River Argus (NZ) 24 Aug. 2/5: As for nobblers, the most of them there sort of things that hav gon down my throte this weak has bin pade for by yours truly.
1871		C. Money Knocking About in N.Z. 13: There behind the bar of the ‘White Star’ was Reinecker [...] serving a ‘nobbler’ to a sashed and booted digger.
1881		A.C. Grant Bush-Life in Queensland I 243: He must drink a nobbler with ‘Tom,’ and be ready to ‘shout’ for all hands.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 3: If a few nobblers make him feel as if he might have some good chances yet [...] why shouldn’t he drink?
1892		H. Nisbet Bushranger’s Sweetheart 41: Fine woman, but a little too fond of her nobbler.
1908		H. Lawson ‘The Hypnotised Township’ in Roderick (1972) 779: The Professor [...] calling upon her to have a stiff nobbler of whisky hot sent up to his room.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 6 Oct. 15/2: Only one man had the forethought to bring a 100-gallon cask of rum, which he retailed at a ‘bob’ a nobbler. When that ran out, he made his own grog.
1917		‘Henry Handel Richardson’ Aus. Felix (1971) 224: Having poured Doyle a nobbler and put a flask in his own pocket, Mahoney reopened the front door.
1920		Bulletin (Sydney) 19 Feb. 34/2: Adelaide is a careful soul. Having for the first time the experience oif having its whisky measured into the glass, it finds with sur- prise that the prescribed nobbier is bigger than it has been in the habit of helping itself to.
1926		M. Forrest Hibiscus Heart 17: Just one nobbler.
1936		‘Banjo’ Paterson Shearer’s Colt 35: She sent down to the blacks’ camp to say that she would ‘give it big feller nobbler’ to any black who could catch her a Murray cod.
1957		D. Niland Call Me When the Cross Turns Over (1958) 30: He poured himself nobbler after nobbler and drank them straight.
1975		D. Davin Breathing Spaces 81: There were two full whisky nobblers.
1988		(ref. to mid-19C) McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 76/2: nobbler mid-C19 dram of any alcoholic spirit, usually gin, whisky, rum or brandy.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].