Definition: Larigot (to drink to one's heart's content)

Religious - from Bishop Rigault in Rouen, who donated a bell nicknamed "La Rigaule" to the cathedral. The bell ringers, thirsty from their efforts, would then drink "à tire la Rigaude" (to the Rigaude).

Musical - from the larigot, a type of instrument between a flute and a fife, which required considerable effort to play. Like horn, cor, biniou and bombarde players, flute players have always had a reputation for being heavy drinkers. In fact, people used to say "drink like a player". Drinking a lot was then referred to as "flûter". In the tavern, to prove that you were a real man, you had to be able to drink a whole bottle from the neck without pausing for breath, just as the flute player draws sounds from his "larigot" without appearing to breathe.

Military - at the time of Clovis, after his victory over the Goths, who is said to have exclaimed: "I drink to you, Alaric Goth".