Licorice Candy
/ˈlɪk.ər.ɪʃ ˈkæn.di/noun
Confectionery flavored with licorice extract, typically made from licorice root compounds, sugar, and other ingredients.
Did you know?Ancient Greek physicians used licorice root medicinally, while the candy tradition developed much later through concentrated extract, sugar, and confectionery-making.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dl̥k-u-
“Sweet; the reconstructed root behind Greek and Latin words for sweetness”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γλυκύρριζα (glukúrrhiza)
“Licorice; literally “sweet root””
Ancient Greek
Greek
γλυκύς (glukús)
“Sweet, forming the first element of the plant’s name”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ῥίζα (rhíza)
“Root, forming the second element of the plant’s name”
Late Antiquity–Middle English
Latin/English
glycyrrhiza → licorice
“The plant name passed through Latin and medieval European forms before becoming English licorice”
13th–14th Century
Arabic/Old French
qandi → candi
“Sugared confection; Arabic qandi referred to crystallized sugar and ultimately gave English candy”
Modern English
English
licorice candy
“A sweet confection flavored with licorice, commonly made in ropes, twists, drops, or lozenges”