‖ dragée
(draʒe)
Also erron. dragé.
[F. = sweetmeat, comfit: see dredge n.2]
‘A sugar plum or sweetmeat in the centre of which is a drug; intended for the more pleasant administration of medicinal substances’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.). In modern use not restricted to sweetmeats serving as a vehicle for drugs; often a sugared almond. Also attrib. and transf.
| 1853 C. Brontë Villette III. xxi. 48 He was fond of bon⁓bons..and..would give his ‘dragées’ as freely as he lent his books. 1866 Pharmaceut. Jrnl. Ser. ii. VII. 374 A medicine called Cod-liver Dragés. 1870 Ibid XI. 543 On the Continent..[they] keep genuine dragées of various strengths..of rhubarb, aloes, and other simple and compound pills. 1905 A. Bennett Sacred & Profane Love iii. iii. 249 Alice wanted to buy him some sweets... I asked him if he would like dragées. 1958 Observer 14 Sept. 11/3 Make-up in delicate dragée tones. |