malvoisie

English

Alternative forms

• malvesey

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman malvesey, malvoisin, Middle French malvoisie, from Italian malvasia, from Ancient Greek Μονεμβασία (Monembasía, “Monemvasia”, a city on the Peloponnese), from μόνος (mónos, “only one”) + ἔμβασις (émbasis, “entering into”, ἐν + βάσις). Compare malmsey.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmalvɔɪzɪ/, /ˌmalvɔɪˈziː/
• IPA^(key): /ˌmɑlˌvwɑˈzi/
• Rhymes: -iː

Noun

malvoisie (countable and uncountable, plural malvoisies)

1. Synonym of malmsey (wine)
   • 1991, Stephen Fry, chapter XIV, in Liar:

     Adrian stood and refilled Shelagh's glass. ‘A little more malvoisie for you?’

   • 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 217:

     There, gifts were exchanged […] and Philip's mistrels performed in front of the king's mother who sat, appreciative, her customary glass of malvesey to hand.