caramel

English

/ˈkæɹ.ə.məl/, /ˈkæ.ɹə.məl/, /ˈkɛɹ.ə.məl/, /ˈkɑɹ.məl/

noun
Definitions
  • A smooth, chewy, sticky confection made by heating sugar and other ingredients until the sugars polymerize and become sticky.
  • A (sometimes hardened) piece of this confection.
  • A yellow-brown color, like that of caramel.

Etymology

Borrowed from French caramel derived from Spanish, Castilian caramelo (candy) derived from Portuguese caramelo derived from Latin calamellus, cannamellis.

Origin

Latin

cannamellis

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms