poteen
Americannoun
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the first distillation of a fermented mash in the making of whiskey.
-
illicitly distilled whiskey.
noun
Etymology
Origin of poteen
1805–15; < Irish poitín literally, small pot, diminutive of pota pot 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But for the next 50 years Ireland kept passing out literary surprises, for first-rate writers came along as fast as poteen at a christening: Russell, Synge, Gogarty, O'Casey, Joyce, O'Flaherty.
From Time Magazine Archive
Yet the special charm of this book is that it manages to describe Irish peasant life without condescension or that peculiar quaintness which often produces a distinct aroma of poteen and formaldehyde.
From Time Magazine Archive
When barley and potato prices rose during and after World War II, the poteen industry languished.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Well," said he, "ha, ha, ha! now that that breeze has blown over—about the poteen, Hartley?"
From Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent The Works of William Carleton, Volume Two by Carleton, William
Shure the lootenant mustn't blow on me," said Hogan, with rapture in his eyes and a glibness born of poteen on his tongue, "but that court-martial was the makin' of me fortune, sir.
From Marion's Faith. by King, Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
