Etymology

aquavit

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Today it means: A Scandinavian liquor distilled from potato or grain mash to about 40% ABV and typically flavored with anise, although caraway seeds, fennel, dill, and other spices and herbs are also used. Full definition →

Danish akvavit ← Norwegian akevitt ← Medieval Latin aqua vitae
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The story

  1. Medieval Latin · derived fromaqua vitae“water of life”
  2. Norwegian · derived fromakevitt
  3. Danish · derived fromakvavit
  4. English todayaquavit

From Swedish and Danish akvavit and Norwegian akevitt, from Medieval Latin aqua vitae (“water of life”). Doublet of aqua vitae and akvavit. Compare eau de vie, whisky, whiskey, and water of life from the same source.

Words from the same roots

Medieval Latinaqua vitae all →

whiskeyaqua vitaeeau de viewater of life

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.