caramel etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: caramel
• Late Latin: caramellus
• Arabic: قَرْمِيل (qarmīl), meaning "sugar cane"
• Greek: κάλαμος (kalamos), meaning "reed, stalk"

Meaning:

A type of burnt sugar that is used as a flavoring, coloring, and topping in various desserts and other dishes.

Origin:

The word "caramel" originally referred to the dried juice of sugar cane, which was used as a sweetener in ancient Arabia. It is thought that the name "caramel" comes from the Arabic word قَرْمِيل (qarmīl), which was used to refer to the reed-like stalk of the sugar cane plant.

When sugar cane was introduced to Europe during the Middle Ages, the word "caramel" came to be used for the burnt sugar that was a byproduct of the sugar-making process. This burnt sugar was used as a flavoring and coloring agent in various dishes. Over time, the word "caramel" came to refer specifically to the dark, sweet substance that is made by heating sugar until it melts and turns brown.

caramel relate terms

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  Etymology Old French caramel Late Latin caramellus Arabic قَرْمِيل qarmīl

• caramel

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