whiskey

whiskey · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*wed-
2. Proto-Indo-European*wódr̥
3. Proto-Celtic*udenskyos
4. Old Irishuisce
5. Irishuisce
6. Proto-Indo-European*gʷeyh₃-
7. Proto-Indo-European*gʷih₃wós
8. Proto-Celtic*biwos
9. Proto-Celtic*biwotūts
10. Old Irishbethu
11. Irishbeatha
12. Medieval Latinaqua vītae
13. Irishuisce beatha
14. Old Irishuisce
15. Scottish Gaelicuisge
16. Old Irishbethu
17. Scottish Gaelicbeatha
18. Medieval Latinaqua vītae
19. Scottish Gaelicuisge-beatha
20. Englishusquebaugh
21. Englishusque
22. English todaywhiskey

Variant of usque, abbreviation of usquebaugh, from Irish uisce beatha, calque of Medieval Latin aqua vītae (“water of life”). Compare akvavit, aquavit, aqua vitae, eau de vie, and water of life from the same source and vodka from a Russian diminutive for water in reference to the dilution of pure grain spirits.

whiskey · noun²

From whisk + ey.

Words from the same roots