Homebrews

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Alcoholic drinks prepared privately rather than commercially ; software created independently rather than by official developers
2. Beverages brewed at home using personal recipes instead of factory production ; computer programs designed and built by users for personal use
3. Locally crafted alcoholic liquids made outside commercial settings ; applications developed by individuals outside formal software companies

Etymology: "Homebrews" is the plural of "homebrew," a compound formed from "home" and "brew." The pairing is transparent: "brew" has long meant to make a drink by steeping, fermenting or boiling ingredients, and "home" marks that the making happened in a private household rather than a commercial enterprise. The same literal sense underlies the figurative use. Beer or cider made in a kitchen or garage gave the compound its first meaning, and the word later stretched to cover anything produced informally by individuals outside established firms, such as software written by hobbyists rather than formal software companies. The plural simply counts those individual products or the people making them.

Synonyms: craft brews, homemade beers