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prettygoodwordrosolio (roh-ZOH-lee-oh, ruh-ZOH-lee-oh, Italian raw-ZAW-lyaw) - n., a cordial made from spirits and sugar flavored variously with rose petals, orange blossom water, cinnamon, cloves, raisins, or the like.
Popular in, especially, southern Italy. Despite the name, rose petals are actually a less common flavoring -- and indeed the name doesn't actually come from roses, although the current form was probably influenced by people assuming it came from rosa olio, rose-oil. Instead, it's from Medieval Latin rōs sōlis, dew of the sun (similar to how rosemary is actually from rōs maris, dew of the sea, no roses or Marys involved). First drunk in English in the late 18th century.
---L.
Popular in, especially, southern Italy. Despite the name, rose petals are actually a less common flavoring -- and indeed the name doesn't actually come from roses, although the current form was probably influenced by people assuming it came from rosa olio, rose-oil. Instead, it's from Medieval Latin rōs sōlis, dew of the sun (similar to how rosemary is actually from rōs maris, dew of the sea, no roses or Marys involved). First drunk in English in the late 18th century.
---L.
