Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Caramel

Caramel , noun

[French caramel (compare Sp. caramelo), Late Latin canna mellis, cannamella, canamella, calamellus mellitus, sugar cane, from or confused with Latin canna reed + mel, mellis, honey. See Cane.]

1.
(Chemistry) Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring spirits, gravies, etc.
2.
A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor.