licorice

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From 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).

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈlɪ.k(ə).ɹɪʃ/, /ˈlɪ.k(ə).ɹɪs/

Noun

licorice (usually uncountable, plural licorices)

  1. (countable) The plant Glycyrrhiza glabra, or sometimes in North America the related American Licorice plant Glycyrrhiza lepidota.
  2. (uncountable) A type of candy made from that plant's dried root or its extract.
    Synonym: sugarallie (Scotland, informal)
  3. (countable and uncountable) A black colour, named after the licorice.
    licorice colour:  

Usage notes

The American spelling is nearer the Old French source licorece, which is ultimately from Greek glykyrrhiza.[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
Derived terms
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Translations
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Translations to be checked

See also

Further reading

References
  1. “licorice” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
  2. Ernout, Alfred; Meillet, Antoine (2001) Dictionnaire etymologique de la langue latine, Paris: Klincksieck, →ISBN, page 362
  3. Peters, p. 321.

Middle English

Noun

licorice

  1. Alternative form of lycorys
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