schnapps

noun

1. (in Europe) any strong, dry spirit, as slivovitz, aquavit, or kirsch.
2. a drink of schnapps.

noun

1. a Dutch spirit distilled from potatoes
2. (in Germany) any strong spirit

n.1818, kind of Holland gin, from German Schnaps, literally “a mouthful, gulp,” from Low German snaps, from snappen “to snap” (see snap (v.)). For sense, cf. nip for “alcoholic drink quickly taken.”