claret

noun

1. (UK, countable, uncountable)A dry red wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France, or a similar wine made elsewhere.

   “The vesper bell had rung its parting note; the domini were mostly caged in comfortable quarters, discussing the merits of old port; and the merry student had closed his oak, to consecrate the night to friendship, sack, and claret.”

   “CLARET JELLY SANDWICH: Soak one box of gelatine in one cup of cold water, then dissolve in one cup of boiling water, add one cup of sugar and strain. When cold, add the juice of half a lemon, and one cup of claret and set in a cool place. When ready for use, cover thin slices of lightly buttered white bread with the jelly, cover with another slice of buttered bread and cut in strips.”

2. (countable, uncountable)A deep purplish-red colour, like that of the wine; Bordeaux.

   “Honey smiled hugely, so that Alex was shown every one of her claret gums.”

3. (UK, colloquial, countable, uncountable)Blood.

   “I then gave him a dig on the head with my fist. He squared up, and pouted like an enraged chameleon, looking savagely at me. I gave him another dig, which sent him staggering. He squared again: I gave him another; till at last, as the claret was flowing, he sulked off, and said he would not serve me any more.”

   “Blooded warrior Paul Ince, with his head bedecked in a bandage – if not quite possessing quite the amount of claret spilled by Terry Butcher in Stockholm in 1989 – enforcing order on a patch of green in Rome to help his country triumph in the face of adversity and clear a path to the World Cup finals of 1998.”

   “You play as one of these Revenants, but there’s no feeding on human blood, as instead the most reliable source of claret comes from things called blood beads, which grow on plants.”

   “He was rejuvenated within a week, thanks to a diet of fresh claret direct from the jugular, while the lawyer slept.”

4. someone connected with Burnley Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.

adj

1. Of a deep purplish-red colour, like that of claret.

   “Dhondt drives a claret 1927 Bugatti Royale Type 41, a real spanker, Sixsmith.”

verb

1. (archaic, intransitive)To drink claret.

   “We clareted and champagned till two—then supped, and finished with a kind of regency punch composed of madeira, brandy, and green tea, no real water being admitted therein. There was a night for you!”

   “By night, again, we miss the bright cafe, the brilliantly illuminated offices, and the fringe of guests smoking and clareting […]”