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poteen

[ puh-teen, -cheen, -theen, poh- ]

/ pəˈtin, -ˈtʃin, -ˈθin, poʊ- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR poteen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the first distillation of a fermented mash in the making of whiskey.

illicitly distilled whiskey.

Also potheen.

Origin of poteen

1805–15; < Irish poitín literally, small pot, diminutive of pota pot¹

Words nearby poteen

potboil, potboiler, potbound, potboy, potch, poteen, potemkin, potemkin village, potence, potency, potent

Example sentences from the Web for poteen

Send me that poteen you spoke of, and ignore the Bills against these M'Caffreys.

Valentine M'Clutchy, The Irish Agent |William Carleton
I wouldn't thrust one of thim to rub down a horse, nor wid a bottle of poteen.

Ireland as It Is |Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)
All charged, sergeant, with loyalty and poteen at any rate; hang the Pope.

Willy Reilly |William Carleton
Whatever Brady's usual habits of christening his poteen might have been, that which he now placed before them was good.

The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh |William Carleton

He introduced a timprance lecturer that towld the boys the poteen was pizenin' thim, an' 'twas wather they must dhrink.

Ireland as It Is |Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

British Dictionary definitions for poteen

poteen

poitn

/ (pɒˈtiːn) /

noun

(in Ireland) illicit spirit, often distilled from potatoes

Word Origin for poteen

C19: from Irish poitín little pot, from pota pot