ambeer n Usu |ˈæmˌbɪr, ˈæmˌbɪə|, less freq |ˈæmbə(r)|, occas |ˈembə(r)| Pronc-spp amber, ambia, ambier [Alter of amber, for the color, infl by beer, with ref to color and foam of the spittle] chiefly Sth, S Midl See Map See also ambacker juice, amber juice
1 Juice from tobacco trash: see quot.a1763 in 1775 VA Gaz. (Williamsburg) [Purdie] 4 Aug 1, The floor [of the tobacco-house] being thus prepared, sprinkle strong ambeer over it, made from tobacco trash, and cover it with wet ground leaves, or other tobacco trash, for a fortnight.
2 Saliva colored by chewing tobacco or snuff.1848 Bartlett Americanisms 391, Ambia, Used in Virginia and the Carolinas for tobacco juice. It is a euphemism for the spittle produced by this voluntary ptyalism. 1902 DN 2.228 sIL, Ambeer. . . Tobacco juice. The saliva when chewing tobacco. 1903DN 2.305 seMO, Ambeer. . . Tobacco juice. “They spit ambeer all over the floor.” 1907 DN 3.220 nwAR. 1908 DN 3.286 eAL, wGA. 1914 DN 4.102 KS. Ibid 180, VA. 1923 DN 5.200 swMO. 1927 Adams Congaree 24 cSC [Black], Wid ambier drippin’ off her bill jes like it drip off her tongue in dis world. 1944 Howard Walkin’ Preacher 125 MO, She spat a mouthful of amber directly over the bare toe and into the fire. “Ya kotched me achawin’ my terbaccy.” 1950 PADS 14.11 SC, Ambeer [ˈæmbɛə, ˈæmbjɛə]. c1960 Wilson Coll. csKY. 1965–70 DARE (Qu. DD4, Moisture in the mouth, colored brown by snuff or chewing tobacco) 113 Infs, chiefly Sth, S Midl, Ambeer [ˈæmˌbiə, ˈæmˌbir]; 21 Infs, chiefly Sth, S Midl, Amber [ˈæmbə(r)]; Infs KY92, MS88, Amber [ˈembə(r)].
3 The residue that gathers in the stem of a smoker’s pipe.1899 (1912) Green VA Folk-Speech, Ambeer. . . Thick nicotine in a pipe stem. 1967 DARE FW Addit ceSC, Ambeer. . . The tars, etc. that collect in the pipe stem—not the same as tobacco spittle.