barley sugar

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noun

a brittle, amber-colored, transparent candy, formerly boiled in a decoction of barley, consisting of sugar, cream of tartar, and orange or lemon juice, usually twisted into strips or molded into a variety of shapes.

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Also called barley candy.

Origin of barley sugar

First recorded in 1705–15

Words nearby barley sugar

barley coal, barleycorn, barley sack, barley sandwich, barley stripe, barley sugar, barley water, barley wine, bar line, barlow, barm

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use barley sugar in a sentence

Alcohol and sugar, even in moderate amounts, are not only sinful but poisonous.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes or until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Sticky Toffee Pudding|Carla Hall|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Sticky Toffee Pudding|Carla Hall|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Remove from heat and stir in the walnuts, rum, powdered sugar, and salt until fully incorporated.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Other versions are coated in marzipan, or dusted in powder sugar.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His chief duty on the sugar plantation is to keep the monkeys out of the cane.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Besides, there is always a bunch of bananas hanging inside the house, and he has sugar-cane in abundance.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Until a few months ago, the boy has lived on a sugar plantation owned by a rich Tagal planter.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin|Mary Hazelton Wade
Little Rye was sown, but that little is very good; Barley is suffering from the stormy weather, but is quite thrifty.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Receiving small encouragement in England, he applied to sugar-cane planters to give his engines a trial in the West Indies.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for barley sugar

barley sugar

noun

a brittle clear amber-coloured sweet made by boiling sugar, originally with a barley extract

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012