[Rendering of med.L. aqua fortis.]
† 1. = AQUAFORTIS 1, 2. Obs.
1580. Blundevil, Curing Horses Dis., cviii. 50. It shall be good … to wash all his taile with Aqua fortis, or strong water, made in this sort.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. iv. 215. They refine it [gold] likewise with quickesilver and strong water.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 800. Metalls themselues doe receiue in readily Strong-Waters; And Strong-Waters likewise doe readily pierce into Metalls, and Stones.
1694. Salmon, Bate’s Dispens., I. ix. 400/1. But if you dissolve apart in Strong-waters, you do two things at once.
2. Any form of alcoholic spirits used as a beverage. Now only in pl. (somewhat arch.).
a. 1613. Overbury, Wife, etc. (1638), 178. His new Trade of brewing Strong-Waters makes a number of mad-men.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 160. After, with warme clothes and a little strong water, they had a little recouered him.
1687. Relat. De Chaumont’s Embassy Siam, 23. Eleven Barks full of Oxen, Sheep,… and Strong-water made with Rice.
1727. Gay, Begg. Op., II. iv. Strong waters will in time ruin your constitution.
1790. Act 30 Geo. III., c. 38 § 9. Any distilled Spirituous Liquors or Strong Waters.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxv. Usquebagh—a liquor strange to Halbert, for the strong waters known in the south of Scotland came from France.
1855. Englishw. in Russia, 9. He gave so much strong waters…, that everybody became so drunk that they could not move.
† 3. attrib. and Comb. Obs.
1654. Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 181. Tobacco-shops, and strong-water houses.
1657. in Thurloe, St. Papers (1742), VI. 315. This informant … searched in the house of Samuel Rogers, a strong-water-man,… and there found seven parcels of books. Ibid., vi. 318. Her master’s shop, being a strong-water-shop.
1707. Lond. Gaz., No. 4391/4. Thomas Mathews, late of Newbery…, Strongwaterman.
