Cyder

/ˈsaɪdər/ noun

Definition

An older spelling of cider; a beverage made from fermented apple juice.

Etymology

From Old English 'cider', ultimately from Hebrew 'shekar' (strong drink) via Latin and Old French 'cidre'. The spelling 'cyder' was common in British English through the 18th and 19th centuries before standardizing to 'cider'.

Kelly Says

This spelling variation shows how English spelling wasn't standardized until pretty recently—many old recipes and historical documents call for 'cyder', which was the respectable way to spell it! It's a perfect window into how language changes over time.

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