Etymology

fusel oil

Today it means: A mixture of several higher-order alcohols (having more than two carbon atoms) formed as byproduct in the normal fermentation process, captured as part of the tailings in distillation. An excessive concentration, as in low-quality moonshine, causes unpleasant taste. Full definition →

German Fuselöl
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The story

  1. German · calque ofFuselöl
  2. English todayfusel oil

Partial calque of German Fuselöl, from Fusel, referring to low-quality alcoholic beverages in general, especially to inferior wines and spirits distilled with inadequate equipment.

Words from the same roots

GermanFuselöl all →

fuselol

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.