John Barleycorn

John Barleycorn

n.

A personification of alcoholic liquor.

John Barleycorn

n

usually jocular the personification of alcohol, esp of malt spirits

John′ Bar′leycorn

n.

a personification of alcoholic liquor.

[1610–20]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

John Barleycorn - an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented booze, hard drink, hard liquor, liquor, spirits, strong drink alcohol, alcoholic beverage, alcoholic drink, inebriant, intoxicant - a liquor or brew containing alcohol as the active agent; "alcohol (or drink) ruined him" aqua vitae, ardent spirits - strong distilled liquor or brandy akvavit, aquavit - Scandinavian liquor usually flavored with caraway seeds arak, arrack - any of various strong liquors distilled from the fermented sap of toddy palms or from fermented molasses bitters - alcoholic liquor flavored with bitter herbs and roots brandy - distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice gin - strong liquor flavored with juniper berries ouzo - a Greek liquor flavored with anise rum - liquor distilled from fermented molasses schnapps, schnaps - any of various strong liquors especially a Dutch spirit distilled from potatoes mescal - a colorless Mexican liquor distilled from fermented juices of certain desert plants of the genus Agavaceae (especially the century plant) tequila - Mexican liquor made from fermented juices of an agave plant vodka - unaged colorless liquor originating in Russia whiskey, whisky - a liquor made from fermented mash of grain firewater - any strong spirits (such as strong whisky or rum) lacing - a small amount of liquor added to a food or beverage