Brewer's: Lifting

(The). In Scotland means lifting the coffin on the shoulders of the bearers. Certain ceremonies preceded the funeral.

“When at the funeral of an ordinary husband-man, one o'clock was named as the hour for `lifting,' the party began to assemble two hours previously.” —Saladin: Agnostic Journal, Jan. 14,1893, p. 27.

At the first service were offered meat and ale; at the second, shortbread and whisky; at the third, seed-cake and wine; at the fourth, currant-bun and rum: at the last, sugar-biscuits and brandy.

Lifting

or Lifting the Little Finger. Tippling. In holding a beaker or glass, most persons stick out or lift up the little finger. “Lifting” is a contracted form of the full phrase.

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