malmsey noun. ['mɑ:mzi] Also Malmsey. LME.
[Middle Dutch, Middle Low German malmesie, -eye, in medieval Latin malmasia from Greek place-name Monemvasia in the Peloponnese. Cf. MALVASIA, MALVOISIE.]
1. A strong (now fortified) sweet wine, orig. from around Monemvasia in the Peloponnese, Greece, now also from Spain, the Azores, the Canary Islands and (esp.) Madeira. Also malmsey wine. LME.

2. A kind of grape, orig. from the eastern Mediterranean, from which malmsey was originally made. E16.

Comb.:
malmsey-face a face inflamed by alcoholic drink; malmsey madeira malmsey from Madeira; malmsey-nose a nose inflamed by alcoholic drink; malmsey wine: see sense 1 above.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲