malt

[mawlt]

noun

1. germinated grain, usually barley, used in brewing and distilling.

2. any alcoholic beverage, as beer, ale, or malt liquor, fermented from malt.

3. whisky, as Scotch, that is distilled entirely from malted barley.

4. malted milk.

verb (used with object)

1. to convert (grain) into malt by soaking it in water and allowing it to germinate.

2. to treat or mix with malt, malt extract, etc.

3. to make (liquor) with malt.

verb (used without object)

1. to become malt.

2. to produce malt from grain.

malt

/ mɔːlt /

noun

1. cereal grain, such as barley, that is kiln-dried after it has germinated by soaking in water

2. See malt liquor

3. short for malt whisky

verb

1. to make into or become malt

2. to make (something, esp liquor) with malt

Word History and Origins

Origin of malt¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mealt; cognate with Old Norse malt, German Malz; akin to melt ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of malt¹

Old English mealt; related to Dutch mout, Old Norse malt; see also _melt

Example Sentences

The men joked about whether they could have a drink in hospital - when Mr Shinda's daughter said her father "likes his malts".

Read more on BBC

The drink was a Laphroaig whisky - a smoky, peaty Scottish malt, like pouring a wistful but rather melancholy highland walk into a tumbler.

Read more on BBC

Sir Geoff's academic work saw him invent the barley abrasion process - which involves deliberately damaging the protective husk of grains to speed up the process of malting.

Read more on BBC

Missing maps include a malt whisky map of Scotland, and several maps relating to Gogerddan, the principal estate of the old county of Cardiganshire in the 17th century.

Read more on BBC

Plans to allow English whisky makers to use the term "single malt" have led to a backlash by Scottish distilleries and politicians.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• brew 
• suds