Hungary water
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Ellipsis of Queen of Hungary's water, possibly a calque of French Eau de la Reine de Hongrie, after its supposed origin.
Noun
Hungary water (countable and uncountable, plural Hungary waters)
- (historical) One of various early modern perfumes and elixirs made of rosemary, camomile or later lavender infused in various alcohols.
- 1697, John Vanbrugh, The Provok'd Wife, act V, line 77:
- ...Your Bottle of Hungry Water to your Lady...
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, London: Heinemann, →OCLC, pages 9-10:
- Certain unscrupulous men may call upon you here in your dressing-room. They will lavish you with flowers, with compliments, with phials of Hungary water and methuselahs of the costliest champagne. You must be wary of such men, my hearts, they are not to be trusted.
Translations
rosemary, camomile or later lavender in alcohol
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References
- “Hungary”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “Hungary, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1899.
