Five things you (probably) didn’t know about…

Hip flasks

• Personal flasks developed in cultures around the world, from the use of eggshells and earthenware containers to glass and metal bottles. Christian pilgrims employed them to carry water and oil on their travels.

• The word ‘hipster’ is said have originated with those who carried illicit hip flasks during Prohibition in the USA. ‘Bootleggers’ tucked them into their boots or garters (left).

• In the RAF, the term ‘hip flask’ was used as a coded reference to a revolver.

• These little bottles are usually shaped to fit the curve of the wearer’s hip or thigh, rather than having straight edges, for reasons of both comfort and subtlety.

• It’s said that drinks taste better from a solidsilver hip flask—this is due to the cleansing properties of the metal, which ionises its liquid contents. Georgie Morgan