Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. ()

1865

Hobart Mercury (Tas.) 8 Feb. 3/4: Those [old clothes] that are intended to remain in this country have to be tutored and transformed. The ‘clobberer,’ the ‘reviver,’ and the ‘translator’ lay hands upon them. [...] [B]lack cloth garments pass into the hands of the ‘revivers’, who rejuvenate seedy black coats, and, for the moment, make them look as good as new.

2. a stimulating drink.

1867		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 12 Oct. n.p.: Exit Tommy Noble [...] wondering where he could fall over a ‘reviver’.
1876		Besant & Rice Golden Butterfly I 154: It was but twelve o’clock, and therefore early for revivers of any sort.
1882		Rock Is. Argus (IL) 20 June 4/5: Brown’s Iron Bitters. A true strengthener; a sure reviver.
1889		Dead Bird (Sydney) 9 Nov. 1/4: He asked for his usual reviver.
1894		Mirror of Life 17 Feb. 2/3: As 1.30 he must take a reviver.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 66: Reviver, a drink after a nights spree.
		Illus. Police News 9 Apr. 11/2: If a ‘Sherry Cobbler’ or a ‘Morning Reviver’ were ordered they could be made.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Mar. 14/4: [W]hen suffering a recovery after a big spree and stone-broke, he sent Baldy up to the township to get him a reviver.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 4 Sept. 4/7: The young lady insists on taking a spirituous reviver early in the morning.
1920		Wash. Herald (DC) 11 June 11/3: Patrons of the ‘pubs’ agree the American dispenser of the mixed drink blends the national reviver into a smoother affair.
1934		Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld) 1 Mar. 10/4: I chops the red-back out in three days. Livin’ on revivers for a couple of days.
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 150: A reviver Mister Prayter? Whiskey — or a drop of wine?
1951		Cusack & James Come in Spinner (1960) 52: She swallowed the sherry. ‘God that’s a reviver.’.