Chócolate. n.s. [chocolate, Span.]
- The nut of the cacao-tree.
The tree hath a rose flower, of a great number of petals, from whose empalement arises the pointal, being a tube cut into many parts, which becomes a fruit shaped somewhat like a cucumber, and deeply furrowed, in which are contained several seeds, collected into an oblong heap, and slit down, somewhat like almonds. It is a native of America, and is found in great plenty in several places between the Tropicks, and grows wild. See Cocoa. Miller.
- The cake or mass, made by grinding the kernel of the cacao-nut with other substances, to be dissolved in hot water.
The Spaniards were the first who brought chocolate into use in Europe, to promote the consumption of their cacao-nuts, achiot, and other drugs, which their West Indies furnish, and which enter the composition of chocolate. Chambers.
- The liquor, made by a solution of chocolate in hot water.
Chocolate is certainly much the best of these three exotick liquors: its oil seems to be both rich, alimentary, and anodyne. Arbuthnot on Aliments.
In fumes of burning chocolate shall glow,
And tremble at the sea that froths below! Pope.