armagnac
|ar-ma-gnac|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑɹmənæk/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːmənæk/
brandy from the Armagnac region
Etymology
'armagnac' originates from Occitan (Gascon), specifically the place-name 'Armanhac', ultimately from Late Latin 'Armaniacus', formed from a personal name 'Armanius' plus the suffix '-acus' indicating 'estate of'.
'armagnac' changed from Late Latin 'Armaniacus' to Occitan 'Armanhac', then to French 'Armagnac', and eventually entered English as 'armagnac'.
Initially it referred to the place or estate 'Armaniacus' (the region). Over time the name came to be used for the wine and later the distilled brandy produced there; today it primarily denotes the brandy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of French brandy (eau-de-vie) produced in the Armagnac region of Gascony in southwestern France, typically distilled from white wine and often aged in oak.
After dinner she poured a small glass of armagnac.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the historical region or area in southwestern France (Armagnac) after which the spirit is named.
The vineyards of Armagnac have been cultivated for centuries.
Last updated: 2025/10/15 21:33