seltzer

The word 'seltzer' is a toponym, deriving its name directly from the village of Nieder-Selters in the Taunus region of Germany, historically famous for its naturally effervescent mineral water. In the 18th century, "Selterser Wasser" was exported across Europe and became a generic term for carbonated water. English borrowed and shortened the term in the early 19th century, dropping the "water" and adapting the spelling to 'seltzer'. Today, it no longer denotes water from that specific source but refers generally to plain carbonated water, illustrating how a place name can evolve into a common noun through commercial and cultural influence.

The word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzed unit into English. It originates from the German "Selterser Wasser," meaning "water from Selters," a town in Germany known for its mineral springs.