gin
gin Lexical Profile
gin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and primarily flavored with juniper berries.
"She ordered a classic gin and tonic with a slice of lime at the bar."
A machine used for separating cotton fibers from their seeds.
"The invention of the cotton gin revolutionized the agricultural industry in the Southern United States."
A mechanical trap or snare used for catching birds or small mammals.
"The gamekeeper discovered an illegal gin hidden in the thick undergrowth."
• verb
To generate, stimulate, or artificially create an emotion, interest, or support (often used with 'up').
"The campaign team tried to gin up enthusiasm for their candidate ahead of the primary election."
To separate cotton fibers from their seeds using a machine.
"The agricultural workers ginned the newly harvested cotton before baling it for transport."
Word Nuance & Usage
The word 'gin' acts as a homograph with two entirely distinct origins: the beverage derives from the Dutch word for juniper, while the machine or snare is a historical shortening of the word 'engine'.
• Rhymes for gin
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The beverage sense is a 17th-century shortening of 'geneva' (from Dutch 'jenever', meaning juniper). The machine and snare senses are Middle English shortenings of 'engine' (from Old French 'engin').