licorice
English
editAlternative forms
edit- liquorice (British, Ireland, India) (See the usage notes below)
Etymology
editFrom Middle English lycorys, from Old French licoresse, from Late Latin liquiritia, alteration of Ancient Greek γλυκύρριζα (glukúrrhiza): γλυκύς (glukús, “sweet”) + ῥίζα (rhíza, “root”) (English glucose, English rhizome). Doublet of glycyrrhiza.
Pronunciation
editNoun
editlicorice (usually uncountable, plural licorices)
- (countable) A plant of species Glycyrrhiza glabra, or sometimes in North America, the related American licorice plant Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
- (uncountable) A type of candy made from that plant's dried root or its extract.
- Synonym: (Scotland, informal) sugarallie
- (countable and uncountable) A black colour, named after the licorice.
- licorice:
- (uncountable, chemistry) A flavouring agent made from dried root portions of the aforementioned plant.
- (uncountable) A supposed aphrodisiac made in the past from dried roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza echinata.
Usage notes
editThe American spelling is nearer the Old French source licorece, which is ultimately from Ancient Greek γλυκύρριζα (glukúrrhiza).[1] The British spelling was influenced by the unrelated word liquor.[2] Licorice prevails in Canada and it is common in Australia, but it is rarely found in the UK. Liquorice is all but nonexistent in the US ("chiefly British", according to dictionaries).[3]
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editTranslations
editplant
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confection
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “licorice”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ Ernout, Alfred, Meillet, Antoine (2001) Dictionnaire etymologique de la langue latine, Paris: Klincksieck, →ISBN, page 362
- ^ Peters, p. 321.
Further reading
editMiddle English
editNoun
editlicorice
- Alternative form of lycorys
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- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Late Latin
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