What Did ‘Giggle Water’ Mean? Prohibition-Era Slang
Summary: Prohibition bred creative code words. ‘Giggle water’ was a cheeky favorite for booze.
In this post:
- What “giggle water” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1920s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “giggle water” mean?
“Giggle water” was a playful euphemism for alcoholic drinks, especially in speakeasy culture. The term nods to alcohol’s mood‑lifting effect.
How it was used in the 1920s
At hush‑hush speakeasies, a host might whisper, “Care for some giggle water?” Jazz age etiquette books even winked at such phrases.
Modern equivalents
• booze
• hooch
• a drink