any of various spirituous liquors distilled in the East Indies and other parts of the East and Middle East from the fermented sap of toddy palms, or from fermented molasses, rice, or other materials.
1595-1605; < Arabicʿaraq literally, sweat, juice; see raki
Examples from the web for arrack
Sugarcane was mainly cultivated for the production of arrack, a precursor to rum.
British Dictionary definitions for arrack
arrack
/ˈærək/
noun
1.
a coarse spirit distilled in various Eastern countries from grain, rice, sugar cane, etc
Word Origin
C17: from Arabic `araq sweat, sweet juice, liquor
Word Origin and History for arrack
n.
c.1600, probably picked up in India, ultimately from Arabic araq, literally "sweat, juice;" used of native liquors in Eastern countries, especially those distilled from fermented sap of coconut palm, sometimes from rice or molasses.