moonshine

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the light of the Moon
  2. noun whiskey illegally distilled from a corn mash
  3. verb distill (alcohol) illegally; produce moonshine

Etymology

From Middle English mone schyne, mone-schyne, moone shone; equivalent to moon + shine. Illegally distilled liquor is so named because its manufacture may be conducted without artificial light at night. The verb sense is a back-formation from moonshiner.

In classic literature

Synonyms

moonlight, Moon

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