usque

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *wed-

Proto-Indo-European *-r̥

Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥der.

Proto-Celtic *udenskyos

Old Irish uisce

Irish uisce

Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-

Proto-Indo-European *-wós

Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós

Proto-Celtic *biwos

Proto-Celtic *-tūts

Proto-Celtic *biwotūts

Old Irish bethu

Irish beatha

Medieval Latin aqua vītaecalq.

Irish uisce beathabor.

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Old Irish uisce

Scottish Gaelic uisge

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Old Irish bethu

Scottish Gaelic beatha

Medieval Latin aqua vītaecalq.

Scottish Gaelic uisge-beathabor.

English usquebaugh

English usque

Abbreviation of usquebaugh, from Irish uisce beatha (“water of life”) and Scottish Gaelic uisge beatha (“water of life”). Compare whisky and obsolete whiskybae.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʌskweɪ/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

Noun

usque (countable and uncountable, plural usques)

1. (obsolete) whisky