aguardiente

firewater

noun ah-gwahr-DYEN-teh Rare

Origin: From Latin aqua ardens ('burning water'), via the literal Spanish agua ardiente.

Usage Note

Aguardiente is a generic term for any strong distilled spirit, typically made from sugar cane, anise, or grape marc. In Colombia it specifically refers to the national anise-flavoured liquor; in Spain it more often denotes orujo or similar pomace spirits. The word is masculine despite ending in -e, and its root literally means 'burning water'.

Examples

"Brindaron con un vaso de aguardiente."

Natural Translation

They toasted with a glass of firewater.

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