The word schnapps derives from the same source as the word snap: both originate from the Middle Dutch snappen, meaning to snatch at something with the beak (or, if you lack a beak, with the teeth). When English derived snap from snappen in the early sixteenth century, it retained the meaning of the original Middle Dutch word. In contrast, when German derived schnapps from snappen, it shifted to mean gulp or mouthful. Later on, the meaning of the German schnapps shifted further when it was given to a gin-like drink that, evidently, was gulped rather than sipped. Schnapps was then adopted by English in the early nineteenth century when the drink was introduced to Britain.<\/p>\n
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The word schnapps derives from the same source as the word snap: both originate from the Middle Dutch snappen, meaning to snatch at something with the beak (or, if you lack a beak, with the teeth). When English derived snap from snappen in the early sixteenth century, it retained the meaning of the original Middle […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-s"],"yoast_head":"\n