demon rum

noun

US, old fashioned + humorous

: alcoholic drink : alcohol

It's not like alcohol is some benign entity. The devastation wrought by demon rum has been well-documented for decades, yet no one suggests a return of Prohibition.

—Teresa Keegan, Denver Post, 5 May 2013

—sometimes used with the

… this "Gay Nineties Melodrama" offers up all the elements of an old-fashioned barnstormer, from an innocent country girl heroine named Nellie to a despicable viper named Munro Murgatroyd, who … drives stalwart hero Adam Oakhart to the demon rum.

—Tom Chesek, Asbury Park (New Jersey) Press, 9 Mar. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now