arracks
|ar-racks|
/əˈræks/
(arrack)
Southeast Asian distilled spirit
Etymology
'arrack' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'araq', where 'araq' meant 'to sweat' and by extension referred to a 'distillate' or distilled drink.
'arrack' entered European languages via Portuguese and Dutch contact with South and Southeast Asia in the 16th–17th centuries (Portuguese/Dutch 'arrack'), and the English 'arrack' (and plural 'arracks') developed from these forms.
Initially, the root referred to 'sweat' or the product of distillation; over time it came to denote a particular category of distilled spirits from South and Southeast Asia (now 'arrack').
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'arrack': strong distilled alcoholic drinks from South and Southeast Asia, traditionally made from fermented sap (e.g., coconut flower), sugarcane, rice, or fruit.
Merchants in the 18th century traded arracks alongside other colonial commodities.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/18 12:19