/kar"euh meuhl, -mel', kahr"meuhl/ , n.
1. a liquid made by cooking sugar until it changes color, used for coloring and flavoring food.
2. a kind of chewy candy, commonly in small blocks, made from sugar, butter, milk, etc.
3. a yellowish brown or tan color.
[ 1715-25; caramelo calamellus little reed (by dissimilation), equiv. to calam ( us ) reed (see CALAMUS) + -ellus dim. suffix; meaning changed by assoc. with ML cannamella, canna mellis, etc., sugar cane, equiv. to L canna CANE + mel honey (gen. mellis ) ]