firewater

[ fahyuhr-waw-ter, -wot-er ]

noun

, Often Offensive.

1. alcoholic drink; liquor.

firewater

/ ˈfaɪəˌwɔːtə /

noun

1. any strong spirit, esp whisky

Sensitive Note

It can be very offensive when members of the dominant culture appropriate piecemeal bits of language to imitate or perform impressions of an ethnic or racial minority. Borrowed words like firewater, squaw, and wigwam, or imitative words like how were once used for comedic effect, but they are now considered insensitive to Native Americans and their cultures. Firewater is particularly offensive because it is associated with racist stereotypes about disordered alcohol use among American Indians, which contributed historically to blaming Native victims of racial injustice through disparagement of their moral character.

Word History and Origins

Origin of firewater¹

First recorded in 1820–30; fire + water; probably a translation of an expression in an Algonquian language, as Ojibwe iškote·wa·po· “whiskey” (earlier, other distilled liquors), equivalent to iškote·w-, combining form of iškote· “fire” + -a·po· “liquid”

Example Sentences

Red Crow deprecated these occurrences, but confessed his powerlessness to prevent the flow of either firewater or of blood.

From Project Gutenberg

They finally left him tied with his own new rope to a huge drift log at the base of the pier, and went back to buy more firewater.

From Project Gutenberg

Our young men were lazy, and had not many skins to sell; but they wanted Cappen Gray's goods; they liked the firewater a heap.

From Project Gutenberg

How long was it before our kind Christian friends discovered that the firewater of the palefaces was not an "agency" for good?

From Project Gutenberg

"The Comanches are not like the Pawnees or Cheyennes to kill their eyes and ears with firewater," retorted the chief.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• booze
• drink
• ethanol
• liquor
• methanol
• smoke