Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEAD, n. [Sax. medo, medu, mead or wine; D. meede; G. meth; Dan. miöd; W. mez; Ir. miodh or meadh; Arm. mez. In Gr. μεθυ is wine, as is madja in Sanscrit, and medo in Zend. In Russ. med or meda is honey. If the word signifies primarily liquor in general, it may be allied to Gr. μυδαω, L. madeo, to be wet. But it may have had its name from honey.]

A fermented liquor consisting of honey and water, sometimes enriched with spices. Encyc.