milkshake
UK[ˈmɪlkʃeɪk]US[ˈmɪlkˌʃeɪk]
n
A cold drink made of milk, a flavoring such as fruit or chocolate, and typically ice cream, mixed together until it is smooth and frothy.
Morpheme Breakdown
milk
shake
milk
liquid
shake
agitated mixture
Etymology
The word 'milkshake' is a transparent compound formed from two native English roots. 'Milk', a staple beverage, originates from the Proto-Germanic meluks. 'Shake' derives from the Old English verb sceacan, related to the Proto-Germanic skakaną, meaning to shake or move rapidly. The term first appeared in the late 19th century, originally describing an alcoholic eggnog-like drink that was shaken. By the early 20th century, with the invention of the blender, its meaning evolved to denote the non-alcoholic, ice cream-based beverage we know today, where 'shake' perfectly captures the vigorous mixing action required to create its characteristic frothy texture.
Analysis
Structure: milk (liquid) + shake (agitated mixture)
- milk: From Old English meoluc, milc, of Germanic origin. In this compound, it denotes the primary liquid ingredient.
- shake: From Old English sceacan, meaning 'to move quickly to and fro'. In this compound, it refers to the action of mixing or agitating the ingredients.
Examples
I always order a chocolate milkshake with my burger.
She taught me how to make a strawberry milkshake with fresh fruit.
The old-fashioned diner is famous for its thick and creamy milkshakes.