Meaning
A beverage based on milk, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg; often made alcoholic with rum, brandy, or whisky; popular at Christmas.
Etymology
Origin: Unknown
American English c. 1775 (although drinks like it are attested far earlier, e.g. posset, of which a monastic Christmas recipe used eggs), from egg + nog. The second element is uncertain and long-debated; prominent claims include Norfolk dialect nog (“strong ale”), or a clipping of noggin (“small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol”) (q.v.). Another hypothesis is that it is a variant of grog (“rum-and-water cocktail”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
nogegg flipegg-hotbeveragedrink
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 18 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-06-09OEFGILN
- 2026-05-02GBNEDLO
- 2025-11-25EAONLGH
- 2025-10-05NEGOPTY
- 2025-08-10GAOMENT
- 2025-08-03EAOLGNY
- 2025-05-06OENIGMW
- 2025-04-01GCNHEIO
- 2025-03-30ECNOIGH
- 2025-03-16GUDTOEN
- 2024-11-09EBGINOY
- 2024-03-04GACENOT
+6 earlier appearances in the archive.