Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to drink.

1654		Mercurius Fumigosus 6 5 July 47: The other shee-drinker, is since converted from Ale, and now bubbs nothing but strong Beer.
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 54: We straight betook ourselves to the Boozing Ken; and having bubb’d rumly, we concluded an everlasting friendship.
1675		T. Duffet Mock Songs 105: He [...] learns to bub good Ale.
1683		Fifteen Real Comforts of Matrimony 82: Where is there more scolding than at Billingsgate? And yet where more love and friendship? Those very woman you saw engag’d tongues and nails just now, you shall see the next moment bubbing together like sworn sisters.
a.1790		‘The Flash Man of St. Giles’ in Farmer Musa Pedestris (1896) 75: We live in pefect harmony, / And grub and bub our fill.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1867		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 19 Oct. n.p.: They ‘bub’ their ‘lush’ that never ‘bubbed’ before / And all those ‘blokes’ that used to ‘bub’ are ‘bubbing’ more and more.