Etymology Map
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Booze

3 stages from Middle Dutch to English.

Today it means alcoholic drink

Where does the word "booze" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch busen, passing through Middle English before entering English (1700s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
busen
Middle Dutch · medieval
"to drink heavily"
possibly related to 'buise', a drinking vessel
2
Stage 2 of 3
bouse
Middle English · 1300s
"to drink deeply"
picked up through trade with Low Countries merchants and sailors
3
Stage 3 of 3
booze
English · 1700s
"alcoholic drink"
survived as thieves' cant and slang, then spread into informal speech everywhere
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Read the full story

Booze’s story begins in Middle Dutch: busen meant “to drink heavily.” Possibly related to 'buise', a drinking vessel. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as bouse. Picked up through trade with Low Countries merchants and sailors. It reached English by 1700s as booze. Survived as thieves' cant and slang, then spread into informal speech everywhere. Today, booze means alcoholic drink.