Etymology Map
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Jelly

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a sweet, clear food set with gelatin or pectin

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

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

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.