Hydromel - Definition

[Eduardo Miranda]

I have found that the word definition Hydromel used in many websites (mostly in US) is wrong.

Hydromel is not a variation of mead and is not watered mead!

Hydromel is the French word for Mead like the Portuguese word Hidromel, the Spanish word Hidromiel and the Italian word Idromele. All have the origin in the Latin word Hydromeli.

I would appreciate to not see the word used improperly. the term is very old and exists in regions that make mead since forever .

This is a mead related website (excellent by the way) and i ask to Vicky Rowe if it's possible to correct this definition in the glossary.

Regards,
Eduardo Miranda

[TAKeyser]

Originally Posted by Eduardo Miranda

I have found that the word definition Hydromel used in many websites (mostly in US) is wrong.

Hydromel is not a variation of mead and is not watered mead!

Hydromel is the French word for Mead like the Portuguese word Hidromel, the Spanish word Hidromiel and the Italian word Idromele. All have the origin in the Latin word Hydromeli.

I would appreciate to not see the word used improperly. the term is very old and exists in regions that make mead since forever .

This is a mead related website (excellent by the way) and i ask to Vicky Rowe if it's possible to correct this definition in the glossary.

Regards,
Eduardo Miranda

It may have once been just another word for Mead, but words evolve over time and their definitions are expanded and change and Hydromel has taken on the meaning of a low Alcohol Mead. There's a whole science of Linguistics that explains words, their definitions and their evolution.

[Eduardo Miranda]

Originally Posted by TAKeyser

It may have once been just another word for Mead, but words evolve over time and their definitions are expanded and change and Hydromel has taken on the meaning of a low Alcohol Mead. There's a whole science of Linguistics that explains words, their definitions and their evolution.

Excuse my insistence, but are trying to give a new meaning to the word.

The point is that Hydromel is French, not English (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydromel). We can find French law since 1911 related with mead with this word. (http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affich...xte=20080918 |)

If there is a French member of this forum can shed some light on this subject.

Regards,
Eduardo Miranda

[TAKeyser]

Originally Posted by Eduardo Miranda

Excuse my insistence, but are trying to give a new meaning to the word.

The point is that Hydromel is French, not English (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydromel). We can find French law since 1911 related with mead with this word. (http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affich...xte=20080918 |)

If there is a French member of this forum can shed some light on this subject.

Regards,
Eduardo Miranda

The definitions of words change over time. Look up the word Etymology.

Some examples:
Nice used to be an insult and meant foolish or stupid in the 13th century and it went through many changes right through to the 18th century with meanings like wanton, extravagant, elegant, strange, modest, thin, and shy or coy. Now it means a good & pleasing or thoughtful & kind.

Silly meant blessed or happy in the 11th century and went through pious, innocent, harmless, pitiable and feeble minded before ending up as foolish or stupid.

Pretty started as crafty this changed to clever or skillfully made, then to fine and ended up as beautiful.

Some other changes are:

Awful used to mean Deserving of awe

Girl used to mean Young person of either sex

Neck used to mean Parcel of land (as in neck of the woods)

Nuisance used to mean Injury, harm

Sophisticated used to mean Corrupted

[TheAlchemist]

Thanks TAK! I love words!

[BrewinNColorado]

Language is a very interesting topic simply because so many words change and progress over time that their meaning now is often very different then what it started off. A good example of this, and I hope that it makes sense is here in America, we give a general name to any soft tissue that is used to wipe your nose as being a kleenex. Kleenex is an actual brand but is often used as a general term.

In this case, hydromel is not mean to be watered down mead, but mead that is like water. To be classified as a hydromel, it has to be less than a certain ABV. breaking down the root, hydro = water and miel = mead, so there is a logical use of the word to mean a mead that is low in alcohol.

While researching this word, I do think it is fair to say that gotmead does list a hydromel also as the french name for mead.

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php?opt...=244&Itemid=67

As far as hydromel being used just to describe the french meads, this is going to be a tough to change. I know that a lot of money and time has gone into making sure that champagne is used only to describe a specific wine that is made in a particular region of france.

What do you suggest to describe a mead that is low in abv?

[akueck]

The "miel" part of the word actually means honey, though I suppose it could also double as mead to some people. It's the same root as the "mel" part in melomel, etc. In Spanish honey is "miel de abeja" or "bee honey", for example.

"Hydromel" in French definitely is the same thing as "mead" in English. However in English the word is generally taken to be a low alcohol mead. Such is life.

[Eduardo Miranda]

Thanks TAKeyser for the great examples presented. We're always learning.

[Eduardo Miranda]

Originally Posted by BrewinNColorado

In this case, hydromel is not mean to be watered down mead, but mead that is like water. To be classified as a hydromel, it has to be less than a certain ABV. breaking down the root, hydro = water and miel = mead, so there is a logical use of the word to mean a mead that is low in alcohol.

Allow me a correction: Hydro = water and Miel = honey

Originally Posted by BrewinNColorado

While researching this word, I do think it is fair to say that gotmead does list a hydromel also as the french name for mead.

http://www.gotmead.com/index.php?opt...=244&Itemid=67

Thanks. had not seen this page.

Originally Posted by BrewinNColorado

What do you suggest to describe a mead that is low in abv?

I honestly have no suggestions.
Can you tell me what is the ABV for a mead be considered "Hydromel"?

Regards,
Eduardo Miranda