gin

Where does the word "gin" come from? It comes from Dutch genever, and was adopted directly into English (1600s-1700s).

Gin’s story begins in Dutch: genever meant “juniper; a juniper-flavored spirit.” Meaning "juniper", the berry used to flavor the spirit. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as gin. Shortened from the Dutch term when English soldiers brought it home. Today, gin means a clear, juniper-flavored distilled spirit.

1. Stage 1 · Dutch · medieval genever "juniper; a juniper-flavored spirit", meaning "juniper", the berry used to flavor the spirit.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s-1700s gin "a juniper-flavored distilled spirit", shortened from the Dutch term when English soldiers brought it home.