A clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavored with juniper berries. Also refers to a trap or snare.
From Dutch genever meaning 'juniper', from Latin juniperus. The alcoholic beverage sense developed in the 17th century when English soldiers encountered Dutch gin during military campaigns in the Low Countries.
The phrase 'Dutch courage' actually refers to the confidence that gin gave to English soldiers before battle, as they adopted this juniper-flavored spirit from their Dutch allies. Interestingly, gin's popularity in 18th-century London became so problematic that it sparked the 'Gin Craze,' leading to social reforms and licensing laws.
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