genever
/dʒɪˈniːvə
/(also literary geneva)
noun [mass noun]
Dutch gin: visit a bar to sample the famous Dutch genever [as modifier]: a genever aperitif...
- British soldiers campaigning in the Low Countries in the 16th century were so impressed by the effects of a nip of genever as to coin the expression ‘Dutch courage’.
- The restaurant cooks all its dishes in genever - a tasty gin-based Belgian liqueur - and offers fruit-flavoured shots of the stuff at any time throughout the meal.
- Unlike most gin, young, genever is lighter and drier.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Dutch, from Old French genevre, from an alteration of Latin juniperus (gin being flavoured with juniper berries). The variant spelling is due to association with Geneva.