Anglo-Indian. Also 7 sure, sury, suri. [a. Skr. surā spirituous liquor, wine (surākara coco-nut tree). Cf. F. soure (17th c.).] The fermented sap of various species of palm, as the wild date, the coco-nut, and the palmyra; = TODDY sb. 1. Also attrib., as sura-house, -tree.
1598. W. Phillip, trans. Linschoten, I. lvi. 101/2. The pot in short space is full of water, which they call Sura, & is very pleasant to drinke, like sweet whay.
1609–10. W. Finch, in Purchas, Pilgrims (1625), I. IV. iv. § 6. 436. A goodly Countrey … abounding with wild Date Trees … whence they draw a liquor called Tarrie or Sure.
1623. in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1908), II. 314. The elephantes hath destroyed many hundreds of coques and sura trees.
1684. trans. Tavernier’s Trav., II. 86 (Y.). Nor could they drink either Wine, or Sury, or Strong Water.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind. iii. 47. This [juice from the Coco-Nut Tree] they call Suri, which is to be sold at the Suri-houses.
1874. Treas. Bot., Suppl.
