malt

[ mawlt ]

noun

1. germinated grain, usually barley, used in brewing and distilling.
2. any alcoholic beverage, as beer, ale, or malt liquor, fermented from malt.
3. whisky, as Scotch, that is distilled entirely from malted barley.
4. malted milk ( def 2 ).

verb (used with object)

1. to convert (grain) into malt by soaking it in water and allowing it to germinate.
2. to treat or mix with malt, malt extract, etc.
3. to make (liquor) with malt.

verb (used without object)

1. to become malt.
2. to produce malt from grain.

malt

/ mɔːlt /

noun

1. cereal grain, such as barley, that is kiln-dried after it has germinated by soaking in water
2. See malt liquor
3. short for malt whisky

verb

1. to make into or become malt
2. to make (something, esp liquor) with malt

Word History and Origins

Origin of malt¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mealt; cognate with Old Norse malt, German Malz; akin to melt ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of malt¹

Old English mealt; related to Dutch mout, Old Norse malt; see also melt

Example Sentences

Among their collection is a special fire brick that was salvaged from the SS Politician, after it ran aground in the Outer Hebrides in 1941 carrying 264,000 bottles of malt whisky - inspiring the novel and film Whisky Galore!

From BBC

For vinegar washes, you can use distilled malt, cider or wine vinegars.

From Salon

Mr Biddulph said now they are "recognised as malting ovens, used to heat partially germinated grain to produce malt".

From BBC

Laura Cameron, a health and safety lawyer, compared it to a “40-year-old malt whisky” that had only improved with time.

From BBC

Boyle likes single malt Scotch, and Verdugo has observed a tradition in which clergy imbibe at an evening “social.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brew
• suds