Grenadine vs grenade

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Grammarist

Grenadine and grenade are two words that are close in spelling and pronunciation, but have vastly different meanings. They are sometimes confused. Interestingly, even though they have come to mean very different things, they are derived from the same root. We will examine the definitions of grenadine and grenade, where these two words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

Grenadine is a flavored syrup that is used in flavoring alcoholic beverages, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.
Grenadine syrup is a sugar syrup that is ruby-colored, as it is made out of pomegranate juice. This type of sugar syrup may also be called a simple syrup. Many classic cocktail recipes call for this ingredient as a sweetener, including the Tom Collins which is made with gin, a variation of the pina colada which is made with rum, the old fashioned which is made with bourbon, the whiskey sour which is made with whiskey, the tequila sunrise made with tequila and the vodka sunrise made with vodka, and many other cocktail recipes. Some recipes call for the grenadine to be stirred into the drink, while others call for the syrup to be poured into the bottom of the glass or the top of the glass, where it provides a beautiful rosy layer. Grenadine is also used in mocktails, which are recipes based on classic cocktails, but omit the liquor. A fruity mocktail such as an alcohol-free mai tai may taste very similar to the original cocktail recipe. Some people enjoy grenadine in sodas or plain orange juice, as well as iced tea, sparkling water, or lemonade. The Shirley Temple is a non-alcoholic drink that a mixologist will prepare for a child, as it is simply ginger ale sweetened with grenadine. Unfortunately, high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors are now used in most commercial grenadines. It is easy to make your own grenadine, as it is simply pomegranate juice and sugar cooked down to pomegranate syrup in a saucepan. The word grenadine is derived from the French word grenade, which means pomegranate.

A grenade is tactical, hand-held weapon that is thrown at enemy troops during combat. In essence, a hand grenade is a small bomb that is designed to be lethal and to result in a high number of casualties. During an assault, infantry may use a grenade launcher in order to deliver each projectile more accurately. Before the grenade is thrown or launched, the safety pin is removed in order to allow detonation after a period of time. A grenade blast not only kills soldiers in the explosion, but a large blast radius is covered by shrapnel, each fragment a lethal weapon. A smoke grenade is one that only emits smoke, and is not used in order to create a blast. The word grenade is also derived from the Old French word grenade, as the original design resembled a pomegranate.

Examples

On your next visit, try the Artist’s Special–made with old forester, amontillado sherry, house made grenadine and lemon, for a sweet drink with a punchy finish. (Philadelphia Style Magazine)

It’s made with Wheat State’s barrel-aged gin, lime juice, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Jack Rudy Small Batch Grenadine, cardamom bitters and a lime wedge. (The Wichita Eagle)

While the number of grenades coming into the country appears to be on the rise, the number of the devices exploded averaged one a year during that period. (The Independent)

Bomb squad officers evacuated houses in a Jacksonville neighborhood after a Vietnam War vet’s son found a hand grenade among his late dad’s stuff. (The Sun Sentinel)