Meanings
plural ratafias
- countableuncountableA liqueur or cordial flavored with peach or cherry kernels, bitter almonds, or other fruits.
Steeped cucumber ratafia with Pimm's and Sprite is garnished with a squash blossom at T'afia in Houston.
2007 August 29, Pete Wells, “Bottling the Bounty of the Season”, in New York Times1 more example
“Stop that there infernal screeching!” said a couple of ladies, who were sipping ratafia in company with two pretty fellows.
1839, William Makepeace Thackeray, Catherine: A Story - countableA kind of biscuit made with ratafia essence and almond or apricot kernels.
1 more example
Mrs. Chaloner ordered wine-biscuits and olives, and gave Mr. Freely to understand that she should find his shop a great convenience. So did the doctor’s wife, and so did Mrs. Gate, at the large carding-mill, who, having high connexions frequently visiting her, might be expected to have a large consumption of ratafias and macaroons.
1864, George Eliot, chapter II, in Brother JacobSynonyms: ratafia biscuit
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA kind of biscuit made with ratafia essence and almond or apricot kernels.
More synonyms by meaning
nounsweet liqueur made from wine and brandy flavored with plum or peach or apricot kernels and bitter almonds
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Bulgarian ратафия, рашафия
- ратафия (ratafija)liqueur
- рашафия (rašafija)liqueur
Catalan ratafia
- ratafialiqueur
Czech ratafia
- ratafialiqueur
French ratafia
- ratafialiqueur
Italian ratafià
- ratafiàliqueur
Polish ratafia
- ratafialiqueur
Portuguese ratafia
- ratafialiqueur
Spanish ratafía
- ratafíaliqueur
Yiddish נאַליווקע, מאַנדל־ליקער
- נאַליווקע (nalivke)liqueur
- מאַנדל־ליקערliqueur
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with ratafia
Cite this entry
ratafia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ratafia
“ratafia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ratafia. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ratafia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ratafia.
Source: ratafia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.