firewater

noun

fire·​wa·​ter ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌwȯ-tər How to pronounce firewater (audio)
-ˌwä-
Synonyms of firewaternext
: strong alcoholic liquor

Synonyms of firewater

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Examples of firewater in a Sentence

the bartender recommended a drink made with the local firewater, a potent gin
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This version incorporates pineapple, allspice, falernum, spicy firewater, and a pinch of the superfood powder known as Blue Majik. — Brittany Martin, Los Angeles Magazine, 19 Feb. 2018 Nonalcoholic Alternatives Maybe the best route to avoid a hangover is to steer clear of firewater in the first place—easier said than done given the many social pressures around drinking. — Emily Peck, WIRED, 31 Dec. 2024 The share price of Kweichow Moutai, China’s most exclusive brand of baijiu firewater, continues to soar, hinting at a thirst for luxury tipples among the super-rich. — The Economist, 23 May 2020 This cocktail is a tribute to Madonna, Queen of Pop, and features mezcal, passionfruit, firewater bitter, Amarena cheery, and a smoking cinnamon stick. — Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 Sep. 2022 Poitín is often called Irish moonshine, but that implies the crude firewater associated with American Prohibition-era bootleggers. — Liza Weisstuch, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Feb. 2021

Word History

Etymology

fire entry 1 + water entry 1, after Ojibwa iškote·wa·po· "distilled liquor, whiskey" (from iškote·w-, form in combination of iškote· "fire" + -a·po· "liquid") or a cognate word in another Algonquian language

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firewater was in 1817

Rhymes for firewater

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Browse Nearby Words

fire watcher
firewater
fireweed
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Cite this Entry

“Firewater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firewater. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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