seltzer
seltzer Lexical Profile
seltzer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Plain water that has been artificially carbonated with carbon dioxide gas, consumed on its own, flavored with fruit essences, or used as a mixer in alcoholic beverages.
"She ordered a glass of lime-flavored seltzer with ice instead of a sugary soft drink."
A naturally effervescent mineral water originally bottled from springs at Niederselters in Hesse, Germany, or an artificial mineral water of similar composition.
"In the nineteenth century, physicians frequently prescribed imported German seltzer to aid digestion."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often used interchangeably in casual speech, 'seltzer' strictly refers to plain water artificially carbonated with carbon dioxide, whereas 'club soda' contains added mineral salts (like sodium bicarbonate) and 'sparkling mineral water' is naturally carbonated at a spring source.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 18th century via an alteration of German 'Selterser (Wasser)', meaning 'water of Selters', a village in Hesse, Germany, famous for its naturally effervescent mineral springs.