proof spirit

American  

noun

1. an alcoholic liquor, or mixture of alcohol and water, containing a standard amount of alcohol. In the U.S. proof spirit has a specific gravity of .93353 (containing one half of its volume of alcohol of a specific gravity of .7939 at 60° F). In Britain proof spirit has a specific gravity of .91984.

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proof spirit British  

noun

1. (in Britain and Canada) a mixture of alcohol and water or an alcoholic beverage that contains 49.28 per cent of alcohol by weight, 57.1 per cent by volume at 51°F: up until 1980 used as a standard of alcoholic liquids

2. (in the US) a similar standard mixture containing 50 per cent of alcohol by volume at 60°F

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Etymology

Origin of proof spirit

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

Thousands of bottles of the 80 proof spirit were broken and strewn across the highway and in a nearby ditch.

From Fox News

What is known as “proof spirit” is obtained by mixing nearly equal weights of pure alcohol and water, the quantity of pure alcohol being in bulk about 57% of the whole.

From Project Gutenberg

Steep it in brandy or proof spirit, for a fortnight, shaking it each day.

From Project Gutenberg

When just enough alcohol was present to set fire to the powder, it was said to be “proof spirit.”

From Project Gutenberg

The chief engineer of the ship prepared a number of bottles with proof spirit, in which a lot of these scorpions and centipedes were preserved, and which were secured by passengers curious in such matters.

From Project Gutenberg