Why is booze called spirits ?

[Nashitheki]

I've not only heard alcohol referred to as spirits, but have used the term myself.

In the early days of wine making, ale brewing and more harder alcohol distillation, did humans assoicate spirits with this craft ?

 

[Revoltingest]

Lookee here what I dun found....
Online Etymology Dictionary
Plural form spirits "volatile substance" is an alchemical idea, first attested 1610; sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1670s. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768).

 

[Nashitheki]

Lookee here what I dun found....
Online Etymology Dictionary
Plural form spirits "volatile substance" is an alchemical idea, first attested 1610; sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1670s. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768).

Well thank y'all very kindly.

Guess I was thinking of the sauce in a primitive way. So we all know why booze is called spirits, but I wonder in the ancient days, what deities or spirits were associated with the making of beer, wine or something a little stronger ?

 

[Valjean]

I always assumed alcohol was the 'spirit' of the stuff fermented, and distillation concentrated these spirits.

Similar to 'essence' in essential oils.

 

[tumbleweed41]

As a home beer brewer, I did a lot of research in my early days of brewing.

One interesting note is the word "yeast". Yeast is from the Old English/Dutch/German (Saxon) word 'gist' or 'gyst'. Meaning 'visitor', and sometimes 'unseen visitor'. We also get the words ghost and gas from 'gyst'.

The first beer and wine makers had no idea that the micro-organism yeast was the cause of fermentation and attributed the fermentation to ghosts and spirits rather than the wild yeast in the air that usually caused the desired results.

 

[Pegg]

Well thank y'all very kindly.

Guess I was thinking of the sauce in a primitive way. So we all know why booze is called spirits, but I wonder in the ancient days, what deities or spirits were associated with the making of beer, wine or something a little stronger ?

i think it was drugs that were associated with spiritism.

drugs are used to open the mind and see visions etc...often shaman and witch doctors and tribes people used drugs during religious ceremonies

 

[SageTree]

I thought it was because when you were filled with it you spoke in tongues and could dance better?

:confused

 

[Nashitheki]

As a home beer brewer, I did a lot of research in my early days of brewing.

One interesting note is the word "yeast". Yeast is from the Old English/Dutch/German (Saxon) word 'gist' or 'gyst'. Meaning 'visitor', and sometimes 'unseen visitor'. We also get the words ghost and gas from 'gyst'.

The first beer and wine makers had no idea that the micro-organism yeast was the cause of fermentation and attributed the fermentation to ghosts and spirits rather than the wild yeast in the air that usually caused the desired results.

This has me thinking of the old Irish miracle story of Saint Bridget's Bread.

 

[Nashitheki]

I thought it was because when you were filled with it you spoke in tongues and could dance better?

:confused

Speaking in tongues that could not be remembered the next morning or afternoon

 

[Pegg]

I thought it was because when you were filled with it you spoke in tongues and could dance better?

:confused

easier to sacrifice too :cover:

 

[SageTree]

LoLz.... you know I was just'a jokin'

 

[Iti oj]

I thought it was because when you were filled with it you spoke in tongues and could dance better?

:confused

Thus he was high on spirit.

 

[SageTree]

Thus he was high on spirit.

Full of the Spirit?

 

[Nashitheki]

Full of the Spirit?

Touched by the spirit ?

 

[SageTree]

LOL! perhaps

Spirits seem to make people less inhibited of touching others......

 

[Sylvan]

Its because they love that ****.

 

[Murdoch1232]

Lookee here what I dun found....
Plural form spirits "volatile substance" is an alchemical idea, first attested 1610; sense narrowed to "strong alcoholic liquor" by 1670s. This also is the sense in spirit level (1768).

I always figured that it was called that because it put you in "high spirits" if you had just the right amount.

 

[leon_the_14]

Could be several explanations

 

[leon_the_14]

Myself I think it could be to do with it becoming an industrial practice

 

[Thistle]

Seems like it might have a middle eastern origin.

Why Is Alcohol Called Spirits? - Blurtit