sambuca
UK /samˈbʊkə/ · US /sæmˈbukə/ noun
Forms sambucas sambucae sambuke
- noun An Italian liqueur made from elderberries and flavoured with licorice, traditionally served with 3 coffee beans that represent health, wealth and fortune (or past, present and future).
- noun (music) An ancient form of triangular harp having a very sharp, shrill tone.
- noun An ancient type of ship-borne siege engine.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian sambuca, from Latin sambūcus (“elder tree”), due to a similar 19th century liquor flavored with elderflower. Modern sambuca, which doesn't necessarily have elderberry, started being marketed in 1971.
From Latin sambūca, from Ancient Greek σαμβύκη (sambúkē), ultimately from Aramaic סַבְּכָא (sabbəḵā).
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “sambuca”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details