Etymology Variant of usque, abbreviation of usquebaugh, from Irish uisce beatha, calque of Medieval Latin aqua vītae (“water of life”). Compare akvavit, aquavit, aqua vitae, eau de vie, and water of life from the same source and vodka from a Russian diminutive for water in reference to the dilution of pure grain spirits.
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England, Ireland, US A liquor distilled from the fermented mash of grain (as rye, corn, or barley).
The exceſſive drinking of ſpirituous liquours, eſpecially whiſkey, is now become ſo common, that more people are killed by them, than by ſmall-pox, fevers, broken limbs, accidents, and all other diſtempers put together. And we are credibly informed, that in one dram ſhop only in this town, there are 120 gallons of that accurſed ſpirit, whiſkey, ſold.1753 September 23, “Historical Chronicle”, in The Gentleman's Magazine, volume XXIII, number VIII, London, page 391:
Historical A light gig or carriage drawn by one horse.
Ye Ladies of Lapland who beesoms bestride, Or, pair’d in Witch Whiskeys, aslant the Moon slide;1772, George Alexander Stevens, “The Portrait”, in Songs, Comic, and Satyrical, Oxford, page 202: