firewaters

Noun

firewater (countable and uncountable, plural firewaters)

1. (informal) High-proof alcoholic beverage, especially whiskey (especially in the context of its sale to or consumption by Native Americans).
   • High Jack had been drinking too much rum ever since we landed in Boca. You know how an Indian is—the palefaces fixed his clock when they introduced him to firewater.1909, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “He Also Serves”, in Options

   Synonyms:

   adult beverage, alcohol, bevvy, booze, carouse, drink, fuddling, grog, hard drink, libation

2. (especially) Water for use in firefighting.
   • A continuously circulated firewater line supplies a deluge cooling system in each gathering center for fire containment.1981, Energy Progress, page 205
3. High-temperature hydraulic condensate discharged from industrial boilers.
4. (obsolete) Synonym of alkahest.

   Synonyms:

   alkahest