Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to drink, usu. in large gulps and poss. straight from a bottle or can.

1856		Porter’s Spirit of the Times (NY) 6 Sept. 7/1: Let’s slug-up and prepare for business [DA].
1939		P. Gallagher My Story 64: I began to get a bit cold, took another slug, began to get warm, slugged it all the third time.
c.1950		K. Howard Small Time Crooks 9: He set down the drinks and grinned again as Micky slugged his in one.
1958		Casey ‘Kid’ Motsisi ‘Beedee Stuff’ Casey and Co. (1978) 24: I slug my drink and tell Bill my recentest raw deal.
1965		A. James America’s Homosexual Underground 32: He has to [...] slug a few martinis and grab a hot dog.
1994		D. Fallowell One Hot Summer in St Petersburg 174: Slug vodka in the bedroom.
1997		C. Hiaasen Lucky You 75: Eating barbecue chicken wings and slugging down Coronas.
2009		J. Joso Soothing Music for Stray Cats 64: ‘Cheers,’ I said and I slugged the glass.
2010		L. Redhead Thrill City [ebook] .
2012		T. Pluck ‘Summer of Blind Joe Death’ in Life During Wartime (2018) 160: Mr Collins laughed and slugged back a wallop of shine.
2024		D. Rucker Life’s Too Short 137: I slug my shot of Beam.