- Hip flask
A hip flask is a thin
flask for holding adistilled beverage ; its size and shape are suited to atrouser pocket .Description
Hip flasks are often made of stainless steel with a
leather cover for decoration. Some come with small cups to make sharing easier, although generally liquid is drunk directly from the flask. They are usually contoured to match the curve of the wearer's hip or thigh, for comfort and discreetness.Engraving
The hip flask is popular as commemorative item Fact|date=August 2008, often being engravedFact|date=August 2008. The "
Modern Drunkard Magazine " describes the engraved flask as the best present one can give. The engravings may be a short quote, the recipient's initials, toasts, dates of memorable occasions, or signs of friendship.History
The hip flask began to appear in the form recognised today in the 18th century, initially used by members of the
gentry . However, less compact versions had been in production for several centuries. Notably, in the middle ages, there are several accounts of gutted fruit being used to store liquor. During the 18th century, women boarding docked British warships would smuggle gin into the ship via makeshift flasks, created from pig's bladders and hidden inside their petticoats. Following the act ofprohibition in 1920s America, the state ofIndiana banned the sale ofcocktail shaker s and hip flasks.Antique hip flasks, particularly those made of silver, are now sought-after collector's items. The hip flask appears frequently in
comedy , in part because it allows drinking in inappropriate situations where abottle would not be found.In the
Royal Air Force , "hip-flask" is used as code for arevolver .External links
* [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1232436 Hip flask at everything2.com]
* [http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441 Article mentioning the banning of Hip Flasks]
* [http://www.associations.rafinfo.org.uk/code_names.htm RAF codes]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
