Spirit

Spirit, a name of very general application to fluids, mostly of a lighter specific character than water, and obtained by distillation. Thus, the essential oil of turpentine is called Spirit of Turpentine; a looser usage extended the name to Spirit of Nitre (nitric acid) and Spirit of Salt (hydrochloric acid). But in a stricter sense the term spirit is understood to mean Alcohol (q.v.) in its potable condition, of which there are very numerous varieties, deriving their special characters from the substances used in their production.