whis|key

whis|key «HWIHS kee», noun, plural -keys, adjective.

–n.

1. a strong, intoxicating liquor made from grain. Whiskey usually consists of from two fifths to one half alcohol by volume. In the United States, whiskey is made of corn or rye; in Scotland, Ireland, and Great Britain, whiskey is often made of malted barley.

2. a drink of whiskey.

–adj.

of, having to do with, composed of, or like whiskey.

╂[short for obsolete whiskybae, variant of usquebaugh < Gaelic uisge beatha (literally) water of life. Compare etym. under aqua vitae (Cf. ↑aqua vitae), usquebaugh. (Cf. ↑usquebaugh)]

Usage whiskey, whisky. The preferred spelling in the United States is whiskey. Outside of the United States, except in Ireland, the preferred form is whisky. Scotch made in the United States, however, is spelled whisky in imitation of the Scots' spelling.

Whis|key «HWIHS kee», noun.

U.S. a code name for the letter w, used in transmitting radio messages.