kvass

Where does the word "kvass" come from? It comes from Russian kvas, and was adopted directly into English (1553).

Kvass’s story begins in Russian: kvas meant “a fermented rye bread drink.” A mildly alcoholic drink fermented from rye bread. It reached English by 1553 as kvass. English merchants of the Muscovy Company reported on it in the 1550s. Today, kvass means a mildly alcoholic Russian drink made from fermented rye bread.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · medieval kvas "a fermented rye bread drink", a mildly alcoholic drink fermented from rye bread.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1553 kvass "a mildly alcoholic drink fermented from rye bread", English merchants of the Muscovy Company reported on it in the 1550s.