E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Flap-dragons.
Small combustible bodies blazing at one end and floating in a glass of liquor. The liquor was stirred about with a candle-end to promote combustion. A skilful toper would swallow them blazing, as we swallow the blazing raisins of snap-dragons.
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“He drinks off candles’ ends for flap-dragons.”—Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., ii. 4.
