DCHP-1 Online
forty-rod † 
n. cheap, strong spirits, especially whisky. See 1958 quote.
- 1878 "Forty Rod" was the name of the wine of the country--the balm of Giliad of the railway navvy on a Saturday night.
- 1927 On one occasion word came that Tin Cup Joe was heading for Fort Walsh with a cargo of "40 Rod."
- 1958 It [hootchinoo] was sometimes referred to as Forty-Rod Whisky because it was supposed to kill a man at that distance.
- 1878 "Forty Rod" was the name of the wine of the country--the balm of Giliad of the railway navvy on a Saturday night.