SG Heritage Dictionary

Ratafia [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

ratafee'. A fine spirituous liquor, prepared from the kernels of several kinds of fruits, particularly of cherries, apricots and peaches.

Ratafia [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

A spirituous liquor flavored with the kernels of cherries, apricots, peaches, or other fruit, spiced, and sweetened with sugar; -- a term applied to the liqueurs called noyau, cura/ao, etc.

Ratafia Encyclopedia Britannica

RATAFIA is a term applied to a flavouring essence, the basis of which is the essential oil of bitter almonds. Peach kernels are properly the source of ratafia, but any of the other substances yielding bitter almond oil is used. The name “ratafia” is also applied in France to a variety of liquors, and from Dantzic a special liqueur is sent out under the name of “ratafia” (see vol. xiv. p. 686).

9th ed. Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 20, p. 288
[72 words — estimated reading time: 1 minute]