sambuca

Meaning

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).
• An ancient form of triangular harp having a very sharp, shrill tone.
• An ancient type of ship-borne siege engine.

Origin

• file:Sambuca y cafe.jpg|thumb|sambuca served over ice as a [[chasse-café]]
• Borrowed from Italian sambuca, from Latin sambūcus, considered to be from the instrument name sambūca for its being made of elderwood.
• From Latin sambūca, from Ancient Greek σαμβύκη, ultimately from Aramaic סַבְּכָא.