Lost Word Of The Day (43)

Spirits, one of the three generic categories of alcoholic drink, the other two being ales and wine, are produced by the distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar, that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. In the 18th and 19th centuries any distilled liquor was known as stagma, a noun which has sadly slipped out of fashion.

I will raise my glass if it ever returns.