/akvaˈviːt/.aquavitn.
/akwəˈviːt//akvaˈviːt/. A colourless or yellowish alcoholic spirit distilled from potatoes or other starch-containing plants; the ‘schnapps’ of Scandinavia.
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schnapps1796
snaps1845
aquavit1890
1890 T. Bennett Handbk. Travellers in Norway (ed. 26) 36 Those who suffer from cardialgy (heartburn) and indigestion are recommended to take the Norwegian ‘Akvavit’—a kind of brandy flavoured with carraway seeds, which must be drunk without being mixed with water.
1896 Wine List (T. W Stapleton & Co.) Dec. Aquavit (Norwegian)—54/-.
1920 G. Saintsbury Notes on Cellar-bk. viii. 130 The Norwegian ‘Aquavit’, which used to flow so freely.
1936 New Yorker 7 Mar. 74/4 A Swedish Aquavit which is remarkably soft and smooth.
1964 Punch 15 Jan. 92/2 Fortified by a full potion of akvavit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.1890