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Where does the word "arrack" come from? It comes from Arabic 'araq, passing through Hindi/Tamil before entering English (c. 1600).
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Where does the word "arrack" come from? It comes from Arabic 'araq, passing through Hindi/Tamil before entering English (c. 1600).
Arrack’s story begins in Arabic: 'araq meant “distilled spirit.” Literally "sweat," describing the condensing droplets of distillation. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Hindi/Tamil as arak / araku. Spread along Arab trade routes across the Indian Ocean. It reached English by c. 1600 as arrack. Picked up by English traders in South and Southeast Asia. Today, arrack means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from grain, sugarcane, or palm sap in parts of Asia.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval 'araq "distilled spirit", literally "sweat," describing the condensing droplets of distillation.
- Stage 2 · Hindi/Tamil · 1500s arak / araku "distilled liquor", spread along Arab trade routes across the Indian Ocean.
- Stage 3 · English · c. 1600 arrack "distilled spirit", picked up by English traders in South and Southeast Asia.