brandy
/ˈbrændi/
noun
Origin
Dutch
brandewijn — burnt wine
Overview
Meaning Now
- A strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
- A glass of such spirit.
Literal older meaning
burnt wine
Language path
Dutch → English
Earliest form
brandewijn
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The term arises from the Dutch practice of 'brandewijn' (burnt wine). Distillation was a technique used to concentrate wine for easier shipping; the resulting liquid was then 'reconstituted' with water, though it eventually became preferred in its distilled form.
Evolution
- Middle Dutch
brandewijn
“distilled wine”
Literally 'burnt wine', referring to the process of heating/distilling.
- 17th-century English
brandewine
“distilled spirit”
Borrowed into English as brandewine.
- Modern English
brandy
“distilled wine or fruit spirit”
Connections
Word parts
brand
root
burnt
y
suffix
noun-forming
Related across languages
Dutch
brandewijn
brandy
German
Branntwein
distilled spirit
Related words
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Related to brandy
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.