Etymologically, "vodka" (and its various, mostly Slavic, cognates) means "little water". Similarly, whiskey means "water of life". Alchemists had aqua vitae,

Etymologically, "vodka" (and its various, mostly Slavic, cognates) means "little water". Similarly, whiskey means "water of life". Alchemists had aqua vitae, in Latin, with the same meaning, and the French eau-de-vie. <https://www.etymonline.com/word/vodka https://www.etymonline.com/word/vodka> <https://www.etymonline.com/word/whiskey https://www.etymonline.com/word/whiskey>