hippocras

[ hip-uh-kras ]

noun

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

hippocras

/ ˈhɪpəʊˌkræs /

noun

1. an old English drink of wine flavoured with spices

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippocras¹

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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hippocras¹

C14 ypocras, from Old French: Hippocrates , probably referring to a filter called Hippocrates' sleeve

Example Sentences

The ancient Greek version of mulled wine, Ypocras or Hippocras, takes its name from Hippocrates, the Greek physician regarded as the father of medicine.

From Salon

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

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

From Literature

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

From Literature

Now the towering old fellow, with the ferret-coloured temples, had rushed in and pinned him round the waist the sword clattered to the floor as Agravaine went backward over the hippocras table, with Gawaine on top of him.

From Literature