Rotgut: meaning, definitions and examples
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rotgut
[ ˈrɒtɡʌt ]
alcoholic beverage
Rotgut is a term used to describe a cheap, low-quality alcoholic beverage that is often homemade or poorly distilled. Its consumption is usually associated with unpleasant effects and a high likelihood of intoxication or hangover.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- After a night of drinking rotgut, I woke up feeling terrible.
- The dive bar was known for serving rotgut that left customers with headaches.
- He tried some rotgut whiskey that he found in the back of the cupboard.
Translations
Translations of the word "rotgut" in other languages:
🇵🇹 bebida de má qualidade
🇮🇳 खराब शराब
🇩🇪 Schundwein
🇮🇩 minuman berkualitas rendah
🇺🇦 неякісний алкоголь
🇵🇱 szmelc
🇯🇵 低品質の酒
🇫🇷 alcool de mauvaise qualité
🇪🇸 alcohol de mala calidad
🇹🇷 kalitesiz içki
🇰🇷 저급 술
🇸🇦 مشروب دون المستوى
🇨🇿 špatné víno
🇸🇰 zlá pálenka
🇨🇳 劣质酒
🇸🇮 slab alkohol
🇮🇸 lélegur vín
🇰🇿 сапасыз алкоголь
🇬🇪 უკვე ალკოჰოლი
🇦🇿 keyfiyyətcə aşağı olan içki
🇲🇽 alcohol de mala calidad
Etymology
The word 'rotgut' originated in the mid-19th century, deriving from the combination of 'rot', meaning spoiled or of poor quality, and 'gut', referring to the stomach or the alcohol that is harmful to one's health. It likely referred to the strong, poor-quality spirits that were often consumed by those with little means. The association with low-quality alcohol has since evolved into a broader cultural understanding of cheap, unsafe, or toxic alcohol. Over the years, 'rotgut' has also been used in literature and music to encapsulate themes of despair, poverty, and excessive drinking, illustrating its connection to a lifestyle often marked by hardship and the search for escape through substances. Today, it remains a colloquial term within various subcultures that recognize the dangers of overindulgence in low-quality alcohol.