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arrack

or ar·ak

[ar-uh k, uh-rak]
noun
  1. any of various spirituous liquors distilled in the East Indies and other parts of the East and Middle East from the fermented sap of toddy palms, or from fermented molasses, rice, or other materials.
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Origin of arrack

1595–1605; < Arabic ʿaraq literally, sweat, juice; see raki
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for arrack

Historical Examples

  • Having no bottle, I found that the arrack had been put into a small gourd.

    In the Eastern Seas

    W.H.G. Kingston

  • Going into the house again, I found a lamp and a bottle of arrack upset.

    The Malay Archipelago

    Alfred Russell Wallace

  • Toddy and arrack (native spirit) are also placed in readiness.

  • In front of the platform are placed a sickle, sticks, and arrack (liquor).

  • They offer rice and arrack (alcoholic liquor) to their ancestors.

British Dictionary definitions for arrack

arrack

arak

noun
  1. a coarse spirit distilled in various Eastern countries from grain, rice, sugar cane, etc
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Word Origin

C17: from Arabic `araq sweat, sweet juice, liquor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for arrack

n.

c.1600, probably picked up in India, ultimately from Arabic araq, literally "sweat, juice;" used of native liquors in Eastern countries, especially those distilled from fermented sap of coconut palm, sometimes from rice or molasses.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper