firewater

English

Etymology

fire +‎ water

Noun

firewater (countable and uncountable; plural firewaters)

1. High 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. High temperature hydraulic discharge of condensate from industrial boilers.