absinthe

Where does the word "absinthe" come from? It comes from Greek apsinthion, passing through French before entering English (1842).

Absinthe’s story begins in Greek: apsinthion meant “wormwood.” Wormwood, the bitter herb used to flavor the potent green spirit. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as absinthe. Settled in French for the strong, anise-flavored spirit made with wormwood; the spirit was first distilled in Switzerland's Val-de-Travers in the late 1700s, and French soldiers dosed with it in Algeria in the 1840s brought the habit home. It reached English by 1842 as absinthe. The drink became notorious in Paris café culture and was banned in France in 1915. Today, absinthe means a strong green liqueur flavored with wormwood and anise.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient apsinthion "wormwood", wormwood, the bitter herb used to flavor the potent green spirit.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s absinthe "a strong wormwood-flavored spirit", settled in French for the strong, anise-flavored spirit made with wormwood; the spirit was first distilled in Switzerland's Val-de-Travers in the late 1700s, and French soldiers dosed with it in Algeria in the 1840s brought the habit home.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1842 absinthe "a potent green liqueur flavored with wormwood and anise", the drink became notorious in Paris café culture and was banned in France in 1915.