jelly

Where does the word "jelly" come from? It comes from Latin gelare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Jelly’s story begins in Latin: gelare meant “to freeze.” The same verb gives 'gelato' and 'congeal'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gelee. Meant both frost and a set, wobbly aspic made from meat or fish stock. It reached English by 1300s as jelly. First a savoury aspic, then fruit preserves; in American English it means jam without the fruit pieces. Today, jelly means a sweet, clear food set with gelatin or pectin.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gelare "to freeze", the same verb gives 'gelato' and 'congeal'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gelee "frost; jelly", meant both frost and a set, wobbly aspic made from meat or fish stock.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s jelly "a soft set food", first a savoury aspic, then fruit preserves; in American English it means jam without the fruit pieces.