by-the-glass
UK[ˌbaɪ ðə ˈɡlɑːs]US[ˌbaɪ ðə ˈɡlæs]
adj
(of wine) sold or served in a single serving from a bottle, rather than by the bottle itself
adv
in the manner of being sold or served in a single serving from a bottle
Etymology
The phrase "by the glass" is a modern English compound, originating in the late 20th century within the context of restaurant and bar service. It is formed from the common preposition "by," denoting a method or unit of measurement, the definite article "the," and the noun "glass," referring to the drinking vessel. The logic is entirely transparent and literal: it specifies that a beverage, typically wine, is measured and sold per individual serving contained in a glass, as opposed to the entire bottle. This terminology evolved to meet commercial needs, offering a clear distinction on menus and price lists between two different purchasing options.
Analysis
This is a fixed compound phrase. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes in modern English but is a lexicalized idiom.
Examples
The bar offers a great selection of wines by-the-glass.
I prefer to order by-the-glass so I can try different varieties.
Their by-the-glass menu is updated weekly to feature new arrivals.