Definition: casse-poitrine

Slang expression. "This shop is furnished with two pewter counters where wine, brandy and all manner of intoxicating beverages are sold, which the people have named, in their energetic language, 'casse-poitrine' (literally, 'chest-breaker')." P. d'Anglemont. "These young ladies no longer have the opportunity to enjoy a little drink, consisting of casse-poitrine, vespetro, camphor and other ingredients." Petition from the public girls of Paris, Paris, 1830.