ouzo

[ oo-zoh; Greek oo-zaw ]

noun

1. an anise-flavored, colorless liqueur of Greece.

ouzo

/ ˈuːzəʊ /

noun

1. a strong aniseed-flavoured spirit from Greece

Word History and Origins

Origin of ouzo¹

1895–1900; < Modern Greek oûzo ( n ); etymology uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of ouzo¹

Modern Greek ouzon, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

George nearly smiles and pours me a shot of ouzo, a Greek aperitif flavored with star anise.

From Los Angeles Times

Then it would usually take shared meals and some ouzo, Greece’s ubiquitous anise-flavored spirit for the fishers to trust him.

From Washington Post

An island once known for its unspoiled beaches and local ouzo was now something closer to a holding center.

From New York Times

The better-known anise-flavored spirit from Greece is ouzo, but the even more aromatic tsipouro, made from a grape-based neutral alcohol, is often flavored with aniseed, and is just as popular in the Greek Islands.

From Salon

Maybe I’m naïve, but I don’t believe that most American wine consumers are stymied by memories of ouzo, an anise spirit that was often handed out liberally in shtick-heavy Greek restaurants after meals.

From New York Times