Word Study
sherbet
CIDE DICTIONARY
sherbet, n. [Ar. sherbet, shorbet, sharbat, properly, one drink or sip, a draught, beverage, from shariba to drink. Cf. Sorbet, Sirup, Shrub a drink.].
- A refreshing drink, common in the East, made of the juice of some fruit, diluted, sweetened, and flavored in various ways; as, orange sherbet; lemon sherbet; raspberry sherbet, etc. [1913 Webster]
- A flavored water ice. [1913 Webster]
- A preparation of bicarbonate of soda, tartaric acid, sugar, etc., variously flavored, for making an effervescing drink; -- called also
sherbet powder . [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
sherbet, n.
1 a a flavoured sweet effervescent powder or drink. b US a water-ice.
2 a cooling drink of sweet diluted fruit-juices esp. in Arabic countries.
3 Austral. joc. beer.
1 a a flavoured sweet effervescent powder or drink. b US a water-ice.
2 a cooling drink of sweet diluted fruit-juices esp. in Arabic countries.
3 Austral. joc. beer.
Etymology
Turk. serbet, Pers. serbet f. Arab. sarba drink f. sariba to drink: cf. SHRUB(2), SYRUP
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