Sherry

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈʃɛɹi/

Definitions

1. A variety of fortified wine that hails from the Jerez region of Spain, commonly enjoyed before meals or in culinary applications
2. This type of wine, which can be sweet or dry, is crafted from white grapes and is often integrated into both traditional drinking and cooking practices
3. A type of wine with added distilled spirit made primarily in the Jerez area of Spain, known for its distinctive flavors and versatility

Etymology: The wine takes its name from a town, but the English word for it was formed by mistake. The town is Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, which was spelled "Xeres" in older Spanish, so "vino de Xeres" meant "wine of Xeres." English speakers borrowed the phrase as "sherris," and because the final "s" looked like a plural ending, they treated "sherris" as if it were a plural noun. Dropping that supposed ending left the singular "sherry." The Spanish name of the town once had a sound closer to "shay-reth" than to the modern "heh-reth," which helps explain why the English form came out so differently from the place name. Its spelling with "x" also explains why the wine was once written with the same letter-sound "sh" in English. The Spanish pronunciation of the town has since shifted, leaving the English word as a fossil of an older Andalusian sound.

Synonyms: fortified wine, liqueur