caramel
[kar-uh-muh l, -mel, kahr-muh l]
- a liquid made by cooking sugar until it changes color, used for coloring and flavoring food.
- a kind of chewy candy, commonly in small blocks, made from sugar, butter, milk, etc.
- a yellowish brown or tan color.
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Origin of caramel
1715–25; < French < Spanish or Portuguese caramelo < Late Latin calamellus little reed (by dissimilation), equivalent to calam(us) reed (see calamus) + -ellus diminutive suffix; meaning changed by association with Medieval Latin cannamella, canna mellis, etc., sugar cane, equivalent to Latin canna cane + mel honey (genitive mellis)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for caramel
Contemporary Examples
These bad boys add in a dangerously decadent layer of caramel to create the so-called “Even Sluttier Slutty Brownies.”
Beyond the river, caramel plains rolled away to the distant horizon, spotted with acacia trees and slow-moving giraffe.
My three younger siblings have skin tones that range from caramel to a golden bronze.
It was this giant round patty of chocolate, nuts, and caramel.
CARAMEL NUT BRULEE A delicious but simple desert, a wonderful combination of creamy and crunchy textures.
Historical Examples
Make 1/2 cupful of the sugar and the 1/2 cupful of water into caramel.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 4Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
I must now speak of another sister, Caramel, though I do so with grief.
Marge AskinforitBarry Pain
Have ready some caramel, and stir in enough to give a decided flavor.
Health on the FarmH. F. Harris
I'll just trot this in for the supper, and we'll take the caramel layer to the Fair.
At the Little Brown HouseRuth Alberta Brown
It was tea-time then at Caramel Cottage, and they sat down to take it.
Johnny Ludlow, Sixth SeriesMrs. Henry Wood
caramel
- burnt sugar, used for colouring and flavouring food
- a chewy sweet made from sugar, butter, milk, etc
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See also crème caramel
Word Origin
C18: from French, from Spanish caramelo, of uncertain origin
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
Word Origin and History for caramel
n.
1725, from French caramel "burnt sugar" (17c.), via Old Spanish caramel (modern caramelo), ultimately from Medieval Latin cannamellis, traditionally from Latin canna (see cane (n.)) + mellis, genitive of mel "honey" (see Melissa). But some give the Medieval Latin word an Arabic origin, or trace it to Latin calamus "reed, cane."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper