According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, “eggnog” is an American term made up of the terms “egg” and “nog,” with “nog” meaning “strong ale.” It was first used in 1775.

Original eggnog drinks are debatable in terms of their origins, etymology, and ingredients. Nog was “a sort of strong beer made in East Anglia,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary. In 1693, the word “nog” was first recorded.

Noggin, a Middle English phrase for a tiny, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol, could also be the source of the word. The British drink was also known as an egg flip since it was mixed by “flipping” (rapidly pouring) the ingredients between two pitchers.

The recipe of eggnog defines why it is named an ‘eggnog’.