metheglin

English

Etymology

From Welsh meddyglyn, from meddyg (“medicinal”) (from Latin medicus) + llyn (“liquor”) (cognate with Irish lionn and Gaelic leann).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mɪˈθɛglɪn/, /ˈmɛθəglɪn/

Noun

metheglin (plural metheglins)

1. A spiced mead, originally from Wales.
   • 1988, Anthony Burgess, Any Old Iron:

     But Gwen behind the bar said: ‘Try this, mead it is called.’ Reg admired the pure long high front vowel. Sack mead and sack metheglin. A scholarly man, tall and in leggings, his face a map of purple rivery veins, said: ‘Well, it’s the Welsh national drink, or was. Should properly be meddyglyn, liquor being llyn and meddyg from medicus, the healer'.