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Where does the word "brandy" come from? It comes from Dutch branden, passing through Dutch before entering English (1600s-1700s).
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Where does the word "brandy" come from? It comes from Dutch branden, passing through Dutch before entering English (1600s-1700s).
Brandy’s story begins in Dutch: branden meant “to burn.” Meaning "to burn", referring to distillation over fire. Within Dutch, it grew into brandewijn by 1600s. Literally "burnt wine", a distilled wine spirit. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as brandy. Shortened from the Dutch term. Today, brandy means a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.
- Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval branden "to burn", meaning "to burn", referring to distillation over fire.
- Stage 2 · Dutch · 1600s brandewijn "burnt wine, a distilled spirit", literally "burnt wine", a distilled wine spirit.
- Stage 3 · English · 1600s-1700s brandy "a spirit distilled from wine", shortened from the Dutch term.