"drunk," 1610s, from past participle of souse (v.), on notion of one "pickled" in liquor.
something steeped in pickle, especially "pig parts preserved and pickled," mid-15c., earlier "liquid for pickling" (late 14c.), from souse (v.) or from its French source.
(Variation: to the gills may be added) Drunk
[1613+; probably fr the image of a pickled herring or other pickled fish]
[fr an extension of souse, ''pickle brine, something pickled,'' hence semantically akin to soak, ''drunkard,'' and pickled, ''drunk'']