Word
whisky
US/ˈhwɪski/
UK/wˈɪski/
Definitions
01alcoholic drink
n. a strong alcoholic drink made from grain like barley or corn.
n. a spirit distilled from malted grain, especially barley or rye, and typically aged in oak casks.
“He poured a small glass of whisky and sat down by the fire.”
“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.
02horse-drawn carriage
n. a light, fast carriage pulled by one horse, used in the past.
n. a light, two-wheeled carriage designed for speed, typically drawn by a single horse.
“The gentleman arrived at the inn driving a fast whisky.”
“In the late eighteenth century, the whisky was a popular choice for young men who desired a vehicle that prioritised speed over comfort.”
Archaic
Usage
Usually spelled 'whiskey' in this historical sense.
Etymology
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.
From whisk + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/whisky