Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Aus./N.Z.) anyone, or anything, outstanding, either in a positive or negative manner, usu. congratulatory, e.g. you little bottler; also as adj. [the positive/negative division is between one who has ‘bottle’ and one who ‘bottles out’].

1890		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Colonial Reformer I 154: He’s [a horse] a bottler, that’s what he is; and if you ever go for to sell him, you’ll be sorry.
1934		Sydney Sportsman (Surry Hills, NSW) 17 Mar. 2/4: His Lordship won like a ‘bottler’ there and hasn’t started since. Marcana downed a moderate lot here last week, but did it easily.
1953		T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 8: It’s a bottler of a plan.
1954		J.E. Macdonnell Jim Brady 54: Gee, he’s a bottler bloke.
1959		G. Slatter Gun in My Hand 179: Give me the Gurkhas any day. They’re bloody bottlers. They love it.
1960		‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 60: ‘You bastard,’ Dennis said. ‘You bottler,’ Joe said. [Ibid.] 199: An’ yer couldn’ make a better choice, matey. She’s a little bottler.
1968		(con. 1928) S. Gore Holy Smoke 93: They were certainly bottlers for the writing, them oldies.
1972		A. Chipper Aussie Swearers Guide 34: The opposite of a cow [...] is not bull, but often boomer or bottler, as in ‘a boomer of a day’.
1972		A. Mitchell Half-gallon Quarter-acre Pavlova Paradise 114: ‘She’s a bottler’ is the highest praise a man can give about a woman.
1986		C. Bowles G’DAY 63: The game is either a bottler (if your team wins) or a fizzogg (if it doesn’t).
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 19/2: bottler object of admiration or great approval; eg ‘Thanks for all your help, mate. You’re a bloody bottler.’.
1996		J. Byrell Lairs, Urgers & Coat-Tuggers 131: ‘She was a bottler of a ride, all right’.
2006		P. Carey Theft 135: Good boy Hugh, beauty bottler.

2. (US Und.) a prostitute.

1935

A.J. Pollock Und. Speaks 12/1: Bottler, a prostitute.

3. a sodomite.

1984

Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 123/1: since 1930.

4. a coward, someone who ‘bottles out’ [bottle (it) under bottle (and glass) n.].

2004

R. Puxley Cockney Rabbit 20: Wop (Italian) Known as a ‘bottler’ which in itself means a coward or one who lacks ‘bottle’.

5. (N.Z.) a ‘hard case’, a thug; usu. as bloody bottler.

1953

T.A.G. Hungerford Riverslake 66: ‘You’re a bloody bottler!’ Charlesworth cried warmly.