ENGLISH
REFERENCE

whisky

n.
US //ˈhwɪski// UK //wˈɪski// whisky
  1. 1 alcoholic drink (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a strong alcoholic drink made from grain like barley or corn.

    a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye, and typically aged in oak casks.

    Example

    He poured a small glass of whisky and sat down by the fire.

    Example

    The distillery produces a single-malt whisky that is renowned for its smoky flavour and smooth finish after twelve years of maturation.

    Usage

    Uncountable when referring to the liquid; countable when referring to a single glass or a specific variety.
  2. 2 horse-drawn carriage (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic

    a light, fast carriage pulled by one horse, used in the past.

    a light, two-wheeled carriage designed for speed, typically drawn by a single horse.

    Example

    The gentleman arrived at the inn driving a fast whisky.

    Example

    In the late eighteenth century, the whisky was a popular choice for young men who desired a vehicle that prioritised speed over comfort.

    Usage

    Usually spelled 'whiskey' in this historical sense.
Etymology 1

Variant of usque, abbreviation of usquebaugh (compare obsolete whiskybae), from Scottish Gaelic uisge-beatha (“water of life”), calque of Medieval Latin aqua vitae. Compare akvavit, aquavit, aqua vitae, eau de vie, and water of life from the same source.

Etymology 2

From whisk + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026