Alcohol, especially that which has been illegally prepared. Don't give me any more of that coffin varnish, or I'll be drunk in no time!
coffin varnish
n. inferior liquor. You want some more of this coffin varnish?
tonsil paint
and tonsil varnish
n. liquor; whiskey. The cowboy had to have his daily dose of tonsil paint before he stuffed his face full of beans and hardtack. This tonsil varnish would take the paint off a barn.
tonsil varnish
verb
See tonsil paint
varnished
mod. alcohol intoxicated. (see also shellacked.) Really varnished, he was. Couldn’t see a hole in a ladder.