The word "honeymoon" first appeared in English in the 1500s. The first citation of the word appeared in a 1552
glossary printed in England, called Abcedarium
Anglico Latinum.
"Honeymoon" is derived from the ancient Germanic custom of having newly-weds drink
mead (the 'drink of love') for a whole moon (month) in order to encourage fertility, and a male child in particular.
The history of mead has roots in royalty, religion, sex, and violence throughout the ages of time and cultures of the world.
Mead is almost certainly the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man and likely discovered before the wheel was invented.
Mead has for centuries been renowned as an aphrodisiac, and
mead's real claim to fame is in its origins in wedding celebrations, hence the word "honeymoon."
Mead was traditionally drunk during the month-long celebrations following weddings to insure fertility and the birth of sons. Some customs sent the bride to bed and then filled the
bridegroom with mead until he could no longer stand. He was then delivered to the
bride's bedside to sire a son that very night. If, per chance, the bride did, in fact, bear a son nine months later, the maker of the mead was complimented on its quality.
Jason: How was your
honeymoon, Jack?
Jack: Super! Drank lots of honey and made passionate love to
Jill for a full month. She is now pregnant with our first
baby boy.