Definition of gin

The origin of the word "gin" can be traced back to the Middle Dutch term jenever, which means juniper. This term has been in use since the 15th century and referred to a distilled liquor made from malt wine and flavored with juniper berries. However, the English-speaking world has a different story to tell. During the 17th century, England was at war with the Netherlands, and British soldiers serving in the Dutch army developed a fondness for jenever. They began referring to it as "Dutch courage" and called it "genever." When these soldiers returned to England, they brought the drink back with them, but they could not pronounce the word "jenever" correctly. Instead, they mispronounced it as "gin," and that's how the term stuck in the English language. Initially, the British version of gin was different from the Dutch original in that it was flavored with other botanicals such as coriander, angelica root, and citrus peels. This version became known as "London gin" and was popularized through the growth of the gin industry during the 18th century. So, the origin of the term "gin" is complex and can be traced back to both Dutch and English history. The use of juniper berries, however, continues to be a key component of modern-day gin.