bourbon

bourbon · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰrewh₁-“to be hot, boil”
2. Proto-Celtic · derived from*borvo“froth, foam”
3. English todaybourbon

From bourbon whiskey, originally Bourbon whiskey, of disputed provenance. Generally taken to derive from Bourbon County, Kentucky, but possibly also from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both derive from the French Bourbon dynasty, named for the lordship of French Bourbon l'Archambault. The town's name derives from Borvo, a local Celtic deity associated with hot springs, from Proto-Celtic *borvo (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (“to be hot, boil”). See also Borvo.

Bourbon · proper noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰrewh₁-“to be hot, boil”
2. Proto-Celtic · derived from*borvo“froth, foam”
3. Gaulish · derived fromBorvo
4. English todayBourbon

The French Bourbon dynasty is named for the lordship of Bourbon l'Archambault. The town's name derives from Gaulish Borvo, a local Celtic deity associated with hot springs, from Proto-Celtic *borvo (“froth, foam”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrewh₁- (“to be hot, boil”). Compare brew and fervent. The subsidiary senses derive from the dynasty's name.

Words from the same roots