An alcoholic drink (often, but not necessarily, a half-pint of beer, lager, etc.), especially one intended to be drunk quickly during a brief visit to a public house.
Origin
1970s; earliest use found in Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica).
Definition of swift half in US English:
swift half
noun
British informal
An alcoholic drink (often, but not necessarily, a half-pint of beer, lager, etc.), especially one intended to be drunk quickly during a brief visit to a public house.
Origin
1970s; earliest use found in Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica).