Forms: α. 6 vskebeaghe, 7 vsque-ba’he, vskebah (uskkiba), 7–9 usquebah (7 usquabah), 7 vsquebach; 7 vsque-, 7– usquebagh, 7 vsce-, usce-, uskabagh; 6 vscough-, 7– usquebaugh. β. 7 vsque-, usque-, husquo-, uskebath. γ. (Chiefly Sc.) 6 iskie-bae, 7 usquebay, 8–9 usquebae (8 usquabae). [a. Irish and Sc. Gaelic uisge beatha (uisci-betha in Ann. Loch Cé, an. 1405), lit. ‘water of life’ (cf. AQUA-VITÆ), f. uisge water, and beatha life. The latter word is differently pronounced in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, approximately (bā) and (bē). Cf. WHISKY(BAE.) WHISKY sb.1
With α-forms, in very freq. use from c. 1610.
α. 1581. Derricke, Image Ireland, F ij. She filles them then with Vskebeaghe.
1600. Sir R. Cecil, Lett. (Camden), 33. Remember … the Lord Threasurer with a couple of pugses or some vscough baugh.
1610. Beaum. & Fl., Scornf. Lady, II. i. A bottle of Usquebaugh.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 913. The Irish prepare a distilled Oenomeli made with Honey, Wine and some herbs, which they cal Vsquebach.
1682. Lond. Gaz., No. 1776/4. There is right Irish Usquebagh to be sold … at the Rein-Deer in Tuttle-street,… By one from Ireland.
1706–7. Farquhar, Beaux’ Strat., I. i. An honest Gentleman that came this way from Ireland, made her a Present of a dozen bottles of Usquebaugh.
1762. Foote, Orators, III. 61. Usquebaugh … is an exhilirator of the bowels, and a stomatic to the head.
1818. Hazlitt, English Poets, vii. 260. The last long precious draught of his favourite usquebaugh.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt.-Royal, I. iv. 118. I wonder whether she had a strong brogue, and a sneaking fondness for usquebaugh.
attrib. 1630. Randolph, Aristippus, 24. Are you there you Vsquebaugh Rascall, with your Metheglin iuyce?
β. 1621. S. Ward, Life of Faith, 33. Vsing it [sc. faith] as Vsquebath and strong Waters for swones and heart qualmes onely.
1681. T. Dineley, Jrnl. Tour Irel., in Trans. Kilkenny Archaeol. Soc., Ser. II. II. 25. As thou did not want Usquebath Oat cakes,… How is it then that thou diedst?
1713. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 117. Hee gave us two drames of uskebath.
γ. 1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 1062. And George Gipsones iskie bae Had all the wyle he womit sae.
a. 1689. W. Cleland, Poems (1697), 12. A Tupe Horn fill’d with Vsquebay.
1715. Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk Gr., II. viii. Another gill Of usquebae.
1791. Burns, Tam O’Shanter, 108. Wi’ usquabae, we’ll face the devil!
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, iv. A flask of usquebæ, designed for the refreshment of Lord Menteith.
1840. R. Bremner, Excurs. Denmark, etc. II. 211. Morning drinkers of usquebae.
