n.
Pronunciation: ' kär-m ə l; ' ker- ə -m ə l, ' ka-r ə -, - ˌ mel
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Spanish caramelo, from Portuguese, icicle, caramel, from Late Latin calamellus small reed ― more at SHAWM
Date: 1653
1 : an amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar and used as a coloring and flavoring agent
2 : a firm chewy usually caramel-flavored candy