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Moonshine
MOONSHINEMOONSHINE, an old English term for smuggled liquor, indicating its customary transportation by night, evolved into "moonshiners" in the nineteenth century to describe illicit distillers in southern Appalachia. Because moonshiners' stills were located among thickets or rocks, their products were known locally as "brush whiskey" and "blockade"; few described the liquor itself as "moon-shine." "Blockaders," as moonshiners were also known, viewed whiskey production as a natural right and as the only way to obtain a fair monetary return on mountain corn crops. Despite intensified campaigns against moon-shining after 1877 involving armed patrols of revenue officers, frequent killings, and pitched battles, the business was never quite eliminated. During Prohibition, the term "moonshine" came to be popularly applied to liquor illicitly made anywhere, even in the home. BIBLIOGRAPHYDabney, Joseph E. Mountain Spirits: A Chronicle of Corn Whiskey from King James' Ulster Plantation to America's Appalachians and the Moonshine Life. New York: Scribners, 1974. ———. More Mountain Spirits: The Continuing Chronical of Moon-shine Life and Corn Whiskey, Wines, Ciders, and Beers in America's Appalachians. Ashville, N.C.: Bright Mountain Books, 1985. Alvin F.Harlow/c. w. See alsoAlcohol, Regulation of ; Bootlegging ; Prohibition . |
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"Moonshine." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Moonshine." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401802743.html "Moonshine." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401802743.html |
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moonshine
moonshine from late Middle English, moonshine has been taken as the type of something insubstantial or unreal (originally, in the phrase moonshine in the water). Later, the term was extended to mean foolish, nonsensical, or fanciful talk or ideas.
In North America, from the late 18th century, moonshine has been used to designate illicitly distilled or smuggled liquor. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "moonshine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "moonshine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-moonshine.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "moonshine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-moonshine.html |
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moonshine
moon·shine / ˈmoōnˌshīn/ • n. 1. inf. illicitly distilled or smuggled liquor. 2. foolish talk or ideas: whatever I said, it was moonshine. 3. another term for moonlight. |
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"moonshine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "moonshine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-moonshine.html "moonshine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-moonshine.html |
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moonshine
moonshine American illicit home‐distilled spirit.
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DAVID A. BENDER. "moonshine." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "moonshine." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-moonshine.html DAVID A. BENDER. "moonshine." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-moonshine.html |
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moonshine
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Cite this article
"moonshine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "moonshine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-moonshine.html "moonshine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-moonshine.html |
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