samshu

[ sam-shoo, -syoo ]

noun

1. a Chinese liqueur distilled from millet or rice.

samshu

/ ˈsæmʃuː; -sjuː /

noun

1. an alcoholic drink from China that is made from fermented rice and resembles sake

Word History and Origins

Origin of samshu¹

1690–1700; < dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) sàam-sìu, akin to Chinese sān shāo three boilings, brewings

Word History and Origins

Origin of samshu¹

C17: perhaps modification of Chinese shao chiu spirits that will burn, from shao to burn + chiu spirits

Example Sentences

He gave him green tea to drink and a cup of alcoholic beverage--called samshu--which is made from fermented rice.

From Project Gutenberg

He was holding in his hand a blue china bowl filled with samshu.

From Project Gutenberg

There they smoked opium, drank samshu, and nodded off to sleep.

From Project Gutenberg

In all such cases the crew has either gone ashore to drink samshu or to smoke opium, or else they lie asleep below.

From Project Gutenberg

Samshoo, Samshu, sam′shōō, n. an ardent spirit distilled by the Chinese from rice: any kind of spirits.

From Project Gutenberg