When the term nectar was first introduced into the English language in 1555, it was used in the classical sense of “food of the gods”. Over time, its definition expanded to include describing sweet liquids (1559) and the fluid found in plants (around 1600). This noun, derived from Latin, can be traced back to the Ancient Greek word nektar, which also referred to the mythological drink of the gods. It is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction nek, meaning “death” (thus connecting it to words like innocent, noxious, pernicious, and necropolis). The term nectarine, originally spelled as nectrine, was created in the seventeenth century, likely influenced by the German term nektarpfirsich which translates to “nectar peach”. Both nectar and nectarine have been consistently used in literary works throughout the years.
