firewater

  1. Noun.  igh proof alcohol, usually "whiskey", especially in the context of its sale to or consumption by Native Americans. (a Native American term, a calque of the Ojibwa word ''ishkodewaaboo'', ''ishkodew'' meaning "fire" and ''aaboo'' meaning "water/liquid"). So-called due to frequent inclusion of red pepper by traders in order to hide the taste of cheap doctored alcohol, often including low grade ingredients such as tobacco juice, molasses, etc. Sometimes used humorously in other contexts.
  2. Noun.  igh temperature hydraulic discharge of condensate from industrial boilers.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.