Eggnog

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Grammarist

The word eggnog is often used at Christmastime, though the origin of this term is in dispute. We will examine the definition of the word eggnog, where it may have come from and some examples of its use in sentences.

Eggnog is a drink made of milk, sugar and egg, which is usually mixed with liquor such as brandy or rum. Eggnog is almost exclusively consumed during the Christmas season, and commercial eggnog is often sold in grocery stores during this time. The origin of the term is up for debate. The word nog was in use in the late 1600s in England to refer to an East Anglian beer. In addition, during the Middle Ages a carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol was called a noggin. Many assume that these two facts contribute to the term eggnog. However, it was an American colonial term that is credited with being the basis of the word eggnog. During the 1700s, a popular drink that resembles today’s alcoholic eggnog was referred to as an egg-n-grog. Eggnog is a closed compound word, which is a word derived from two separate words joined together without a space between them.

Examples

Eggnog has probably been around in one form or another for a thousand years, but it didn’t really hit its stride until American colonists adopted it as a drink. (The Delmarva Daily Times)

We tried a lot of different eggnogs to find the best store-bought brand—spoiler alert: it was Southern Comfort!—but we don’t recommend drinking glass after glass of it straight. (Bon Appetit Magazine)

You can attempt to make eggnog from scratch and get very good results, including a richer, frothier drink customized to your liking. (The Scranton Times-Tribune)