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hippocras

[hip-uh-kras]
noun
  1. an old medicinal cordial made of wine mixed with spices.
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Origin of hippocras

1325–75; Middle English ypocras, apparently short for ypocras wyn (translation of Medieval Latin vīnum hippocraticum; so called because clarified by filtering through a strainer named after Hippocrates); Middle English ypocras < Old French: Hippocrates < Medieval Latin Hippocrās, alteration of Latin Hippocratēs, on model of words like cīvitās (nominative), cīvitātis (genitive)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hippocras

Historical Examples

  • The night is still young and the spices and hippocras will soon be served.

    Sir Nigel

    Arthur Conan Doyle

  • Some must carry cups of Hippocras, some lighted tapers; all must join in chorus.'

    Coningsby

    Benjamin Disraeli

  • He raised his first glass of hippocras and gave thanks to his hostess.

  • Finally might come stewed or ripe fruits—figs, dates, grapes, and filberts; the whole washed down with spiced wine (hippocras).

    Life on a Mediaeval Barony

    William Stearns Davis

  • Hippocras, hip′o-kras, n. an aromatic medicated wine, formerly much used as a cordial.

British Dictionary definitions for hippocras

hippocras

noun
  1. an old English drink of wine flavoured with spices
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Word Origin

C14 ypocras, from Old French: Hippocrates, probably referring to a filter called Hippocrates' sleeve
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