hippocras

American  

[hip-uh-kras] / ˈhɪp əˌkræs /

noun

1. an old medicinal cordial made of wine mixed with spices.

---

hippocras British  

/ ˈhɪpəʊˌkræs /

noun

1. an old English drink of wine flavoured with spices

---

Etymology

Origin of hippocras

1325–75; Middle English ypocras, apparently short for ypocras wyn (translation of Medieval Latin vīnum hippocraticum; so called because clarified by filtering through a strainer named after Hippocrates); Middle English ypocras < Old French: Hippocrates < Medieval Latin Hippocrās, alteration of Latin Hippocratēs, on model of words like cīvitās (nominative), cīvitātis (genitive)

Example Sentences

According to several medieval cookbooks the most common of the sweet, spiced wines in the late middle-ages were still referred to as hippocras, with the term "mulled wine" coming later.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2022

“Would you like a glass of hippocras, or some perry?”

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

The page who had brought Sir Agravaine’s hippocras came in from the cloister door.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

If he brought him a glass of hippocras, he would say, "I would rather have wine mixed with absinthe," and straightway the spiced wine was changed into bitter wine.

From The Legends of the Jews — Volume 2 by Szold, Henrietta

On special occasions, in the middle ages, after the dessert, hippocras was served, as they have liqueurs to this day on the Continent both after dinner and after the mid-day breakfast.

From Old Cookery Books and Ancient Cuisine by Hazlitt, William Carew