The word 'punch' comes from the Sanskrit word 'pancha,' meaning 'five.' This refers to the traditional five ingredients used to make the drink: alcohol (usually arrack or rum), sugar, lemon (or lime), water, and spices (like nutmeg). The drink was brought back to England from India by sailors and employees of the East India Company in the early 17th century. Punch became the primary social drink of the 18th century, served in large communal bowls. It was eventually replaced in popularity by the individual 'cocktail' in the 19th century. Today, 'fruit punch' often refers to non-alcoholic blends of juices, but the historical 'Punch' remains the ancestor of many modern group-serving beverages and party drinks.