hooch
UK[huːtʃ]US[huːtʃ]
n
strong, often illegally made alcoholic drink
Etymology
the word "hooch" is a shortened form of "hoochinoo," the name of a tlingit indigenous group in alaska. in the late 19th century, this group was known for producing and trading a potent homemade liquor. the term was adopted into english during the klondike gold rush, initially referring specifically to this illicit alcohol. through this process of metonymy, where the name of the producer came to stand for the product itself, "hooch" entered the broader american lexicon as a colloquial term for any strong, cheap, or illegally distilled spirit.
Analysis
this word is a loanword and does not have segmentable morphemes within its modern english spelling.
Examples
the prohibition-era speakeasy was known for serving powerful hooch.
they distilled their own hooch from potatoes in the backyard shed.
after the raid, the police confiscated several barrels of illegal hooch.