Vermouth
/ˈvɜːr.muːθ/noun
An aromatized fortified wine flavored with herbs, spices, and often wormwood.
Did you know?Vermouth’s name traces back to wormwood, a famously bitter herb used in old medicinal and ritual drinks, and its modern form was popularized in 18th-century Europe.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wer-
“to turn, bend; also associated in some branches with twisting, bitter plants”
Old High German
OHG
wermuota
“wormwood”
Middle High German
MHG
wermuot
“wormwood”
French
French
vermouth
“wormwood”
18th Century
English
vermouth
“an aromatized wine flavored with wormwood and other herbs”
Modern English
English
vermouth
“a fortified aromatized wine used as an aperitif or cocktail ingredient”
Explore more surprising origins