The Collaborative International Dictionary
Punch \Punch\, n. [Hind. p[=a]nch five, Skr. pa?can. So called because composed of five ingredients, viz., sugar, arrack, spice, water, and lemon juice. See Five.] A beverage composed of wine or distilled liquor, water (or milk), sugar, and the juice of lemon, with spice or mint; -- specifically named from the kind of spirit used; as rum punch, claret punch, champagne punch, etc.
Milk punch, a sort of punch made with spirit, milk, sugar, spice, etc.
Punch bowl, a large bowl in which punch is made, or from which it is served.
Roman punch, a punch frozen and served as an ice.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A hot Irish drink, ''scáiltín'', made from equal amounts of hot whiskey and milk. 2 A cold beverage of milk, bourbon, sugar, and vanilla extract, common in New Orleans.
WordNet
n. a punch made of spirits and milk and sugar and spices
Wikipedia
Milk punch is a milk-based brandy or bourbon beverage. It consists of milk, the spirit, sugar, and vanilla extract. It is served cold and usually has nutmeg sprinkled on top.
It is common in New Orleans and traditional on holidays throughout the Deep South.
There are two variations: a punch-bowl drink and a glass drink. The former is known since the 17th century, with the recipe aimed at drink stability: the cream was curdled and strained out. It was attributed to Aphra Behn at the time. The latter is made with fresh milk or cream and is more lush.
A yet another variation, "egg milk punch", is actually eggnog.
"Milk punch" also refers to a hot Irish drink, scáiltín, made of equal parts hot whiskey and milk. It may be flavored with melted butter, sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves.
Usage examples of "milk punch".
I was put in charge, of issuing the rations and of a barrel of milk punch which the Sanitary Commission had sent down to be dealt out on the voyage to such as needed it.
I will mention, parenthetically, that, to this day I abhor milk punch, and also onions.
The landlord himself kept tavern very much as a hostler would, but we had to make a note in his favor that he had never heard of a milk punch.
The characters seem always to be reveling on ham and eggs and milk punch.
At midnight, she took off her eye makeup and the peignoir and made herself a milk punch.