pastis

American  

[pa-stees, pas-tees] / pæˈstis, pasˈtis /

noun

1. a yellowish, anise-based liqueur originally made in Marseilles and similar to absinthe but containing no wormwood.

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pastis British  

/ -ˈstiːs, pæˈstɪs /

noun

1. an anise-flavoured alcoholic drink

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Etymology

Origin of pastis

1925–30; < French < Provençal; Old Provençal pastitz pastry, pâté < Vulgar Latin *pastīcius; see pasticcio, patisserie

Example Sentences

A producer of Armagnac bought a cache of family recipes from a distiller of pastis and absinthe in 2003, and now makes one of the better imported versions of both.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2022

Pastis is named for pastis, an anise-flavored apéritif usually mixed with water and ice before serving.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 13, 2019

APERITIF: Visiting Marseille without trying pastis is like not tasting tea in China: A big mistake.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2017

Makiese stores his wares, which have been ferried across the river from Angola, in old bottles of pastis and offloads the cheap imports to the steady stream of cars and motorcycles passing through.

From Slate • May 1, 2017

The mood is laid-back, down-to-earth, modulated by a midday siesta and a chilled sip of pastis.

From New York Times • Jun. 8, 2016