cream English · revision 4238

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1332|origins=fro cresme}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kriːm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|creyme]], creem, creme,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|cresme|t=chrism, holy oil]], craime, creme (modern French crème),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a blend of Late Latin [[m|la-lat|chrisma|t=ointment]], from Greek khrîsma “unguent, anointing”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) and Late Latin [[m|la-lat|crāmum|t=cream]], of uncertain origin, perhaps Gaulish.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) Merriam-Webster and Barnhart compare Welsh cramen “scab, crust”.^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) It replaced Old English rēam “cream”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[chrism]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The rich, fatty part of milk: creyme 1332 and creem 1378, in Piers Plowman, according to Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Medieval English cookbooks have many recipes using cream,^(Cresswell 2021) and a dish or confection made from or resembling cream is from the early 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The figurative “most excellent part, the best” is from the 1580s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) by the same process as [[flower]];^(Cresswell 2021) French ''crème de la crème'' is not used before the mid-19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Any part that rises to the surface like cream is from the 1660s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Cream cheese'' is from 1583,^(Barnhart 1988) ''cream-coloured'' from 1707,^(Etymonline) the cosmetic ''cold cream'' by 1709, translating Latin ceratum refrigerans,^(Etymonline) and ''cream soda'' by 1854.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to foam, froth”, is from 1440,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) “to remove the best part” from the 1610s,^(Etymonline) and “to beat, defeat heavily” is American slang from 1929.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1332 – cream of milk.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1440 – verb, to froth.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – a creamy dish.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – the best part.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1583 – ''cream cheese''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1709 – ''cold cream''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1929 – verb, to defeat heavily.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The yellowish, fatty part of [[milk]] that rises to the surface.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A substance like or containing cream, such as a cosmetic or a sweet: ''face cream''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A pale yellowish-white colour.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The best part: ''the cream of the crop''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To beat into a creamy consistency: ''cream the butter and sugar''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To add cream to, or cook in a cream sauce.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To remove the cream or the best part from.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' To defeat overwhelmingly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of the colour of cream.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[creamer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chrism]]

+ * [[creamy]]

+ * [[creamery]]

+ * [[cold cream]]

+ * [[ice cream]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Middle English cream, creme also meant the consecrated oil used in anointing, the [[chrism]], from 1303, a sense now historical.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}