eau de vie

[ ohduh vee; English oh duh vee ]

/ oʊdə ˈvi; English ˌoʊ də ˈvi /

brandy, especially a coarser and less purified variety.

Origin of eau de vie

literally, water of life; cf. aqua vitae

In shape, in colour, it resembled the tubs in which Guernsey ordinarily exported its eau-de-vie.

The Mayor of Troy |Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
A bottle of eau-de-vie, that stood near his right hand, assisted him likewise in swallowing his ample ration.

The Rifle Rangers |Captain Mayne Reid
It was like, perhaps, eau-de-vie with liquorice-juice in it; or rather one might say rum, sugared and burned.

The Fte At Coqueville |Emile Zola
Revived with eau-de-vie de Cognac, he insisted on accompanying them.

Nevermore |Rolf Boldrewood

At Coqueville they had known nothing but eau-de-vie; and, moreover, not every one at that.

The Fte At Coqueville |Emile Zola

eau de vie

/ (əʊ də viː, French od vi) /

brandy or other spirits

French, literally: water of life