spirits of wine

noun

1. alcohol ( def 1 ).

spirits of wine

noun

1. functioning as singular or plural another name for alcohol

Word History and Origins

Origin of spirits of wine¹

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

For dessert they had coffee, which the Doctor brewed himself in a French coffee-pot over spirits-of-wine.

From Project Gutenberg

While the actors and fiddlers were going on, most of the spirits-of-wine lamps on altars went out.

From Project Gutenberg

Spirits-of-wine is among the few things that can always be got of satisfactory quality and at moderate cost in every foreign port.

From Project Gutenberg