arrack, arrac, arack, arac, track

[In Sw. & Fr. arack and rack; Dan. & Dut. arak; Ger. arrack and rack; Turk. raki; Mahratta ark a = distilled spirit, the sun; Hind. araq - sharab; Arab. araq = (1) perspiration, (2) juice, sap, (3) spirituous liquor; araqa.] A term used, in the countries to which the Arabs have penetrated, for distilled spirits. In India, where the word is continually used by Anglo-Indians and others, arrack is made by double distillation chiefly from "tod i" or "toddy," a sweet juice derived from the unexpanded flowers of various palm trees, and notably of the coco-nut (Cocos nuci fer a ). [CocoS, TODDY.] It is manufactured also from the succulent flowers of the Ba ia genus of trees [BASSIA], from rice, and from other vegetable products. Liberty to sell it in the several districts of India is farmed out to native contractors at a stipulated sum, notwithstanding which it is obtainable at a very cheap rate, which leads to a good deal of drunkenne both among European soldiers in the East and the low caste natives of India. The beverage arrack may be imitated by di olving forty grains of flowers of benjamin in a quart of rum. Dr. Kitchiner calls this "Vauxhall nectar." "I send this to be better known for choice of china, tes, arrack , and other Indian goods."- Spectator