mead

Where does the word "mead" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic meduz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Mead’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: meduz meant “mead.” Cognate with Greek 'methy', wine, and Sanskrit 'madhu', honey. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as medu. The mead-hall is the centre of the world in 'Beowulf'. It reached English by 1500s as mead. Faded as wine and beer won out, until modern craft brewers revived it. Today, mead means an alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient meduz "mead", cognate with Greek 'methy', wine, and Sanskrit 'madhu', honey.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s medu "mead", the mead-hall is the centre of the world in 'Beowulf'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s mead "mead", faded as wine and beer won out, until modern craft brewers revived it.