1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Miller, a Killer or Murderer.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
To give the miller, verb. phr. (common).—See quot.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 193. Some of his pals
gave him the miller, that is a lot of flour is wrapped up in thin
paper about the size of a fist, and when thrown, the first thing it
comes in contact with, breaks and smothers the party all over.
To drown the miller, verb. phr. (common).—1. To water overmuch.
Originally to drown the miller’s thumb, i.e., the thumb-mark on the
glass.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 171]. To put out the miller’s
thumb. Spoken by good housewives, when they have wet their meal for
bread or paste too much.
1821. Scott, The Pirate, ii. 64. ‘He shall drink off the yawl full
of punch.’ ‘Too much water drowned the miller,’ answered
Triptolemus.
1834. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xii. Old Tom put the pannikin to
his lips. ‘Drowned the miller, by heavens!’ said he; ‘what could I
have been about?’ ejaculated he, adding more spirits to his
mixture.
1886. Miss Hume, Shrops. Folk Lore, p. 597. To drown the miller =
to add too much water to the flour in bread-making; also frequently
applied to tea-making, when it is of course meaningless.