eggnog
EG-nog
/ˈeɡnɒɡ/
A traditional holiday drink made of whipped eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and spices, often served chilled and sometimes mixed with alcohol.
Eggnog is a highly specific, rich, and creamy seasonal beverage associated almost exclusively with the winter holiday season.
The story behind the word. The origin of eggnog is a bit of a linguistic puzzle. It combines 'egg' with 'nog', which in old English dialects referred to a strong ale, or possibly 'noggin', a small wooden cup used to serve alcohol. It evolved from 'posset', a hot medieval drink made of curdled milk and ale.
Word relationships
- spiced dairy drink: Spiced dairy drink is a generic description, whereas eggnog is the specific cultural name of this festive beverage.
Commonly confused with
- custard: Custard is a cooked, thick dessert sauce, while eggnog is a liquid beverage, though they share similar ingredients like eggs and milk.
Collocations
- cup of eggnog
- homemade eggnog
- spiced eggnog
- eggnog recipe
Example sentences
- "We sipped sweet, creamy eggnog by the fireplace while listening to holiday music." Sipping a traditional holiday drink by the fireplace.
Memory hook
You mix 'egg' and milk in a 'nog' (noggin/cup) to make 'eggnog'. Eggnog is the creamy holiday drink.
When not to use
Do not use to describe light, non-dairy beverages, or standard milkshakes.
Fun facts
- In December 1826, a massive riot broke out at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point because cadets smuggled whiskey in to make alcoholic eggnog.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.