Hit with a fist, puppet friend of Judy, alcoholic drink; which meaning of Punch came first?

zbeckabee

punch (n.2) "mixed drink," 1632, traditionally said to derive from Hindi panch "five," in allusion to the number of original ingredients (spirits, water, lemon juice, sugar, spice), from Skt. panchan-s. Sense of "a blow with the first" is from 1580. Fig. sense of "forceful, vigorous quality" is recorded from 1911. The puppet show star, 1709, shortening of Punchinello (1666), from It. (Neapolitan) Pollecinella, dim. of pollecena "turkey pullet," probably in allusion to his big nose. The Punch and Judy show can trace its roots to the 16th century to the Italian commedia dell'arte. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=punch&searchmode=none http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_and_judy Nov 12 08, 3:39 PM