sambuca
1 Americannoun
-
Also sambuke an ancient stringed musical instrument used in Greece and the Middle East.
-
a medieval hurdy-gurdy.
noun
Etymology
Origin of sambuca1
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Middle English sambuke, from Latin sambūca, from Greek sambȳ́kē, perhaps from Semitic; compare Aramaic sabbəkhā
Origin of sambuca2
First recorded in 1970–75; from Italian, feminine derivative of sambuco “elder (tree),” from Latin sa(m)būcus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Renowned grappa producer Poli Distillerie stopped making its smooth, elegant sambuca, which tastes like fresh fennel, in the 1980s, but recently brought it back due to the surge in demand.
From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2022
He said one of the senator’s favorite drinks was sambuca, the Italian anise-flavored liqueur; Mr. McCain would often order ribs or étouffée, the Cajun dish served with shellfish over rice.
From New York Times ● Aug. 27, 2018
Maybe I was primed to love it because my mom liked to make brownies with a splash of sambuca when I was a kid and bought Italian pizzelles every Christmas.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 7, 2018
Maybe some people thought the burnt pepper sambuca sausage with fresh mustard was a little dry.
From New York Times ● Aug. 30, 2014
The sambuca rang quicker, the harp quicker yet.
From Mary Magdalen by Saltus, Edgar
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
