drinking buddy; drinking companion
A friend or acquaintance with whom one regularly drinks alcohol. Casual, friendly term.
He's been my drinking buddy since college.
On weekends I go to an izakaya with my usual drinking companions.
Standard spelling.
Less common variant omitting the okurigana み.
Compound of 飲み (nomi, 'drinking', continuative form of 飲む) + 仲間 (nakama, 'companion, group').