Also 8 sorbette. [a. F. sorbet (Sp. sorbete, Pg. sorvete), ad. It. sorbetto, ad. Turk. shorbet (see SHERBET), perh. influenced by It. sorbire to imbibe. So Du. and Flem. sorbet, G. sorbet(t.]
1. = SHERBET.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. x. Of the beurage which they do cal Sorbet, they do much vse to drinke in the sommer.
[1613. Haga at Constantinople, 5. Each of the Bassas, and the Ambassadour dranke Sorbetta,… which is a kinde of drinke made of Water, Suger, and iuyce of Lemonds, mixed with Amber and Muske.]
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, II. 204. Their most ordinary Drink is Water; next, a Sorbet made of Raisins steeped in Water.
1766. Smollett, Trav., xix. I. 308. Among the refreshments of these warm countries, I ought not to forget mentioning the sorbettes.
1805. Ann. Rev., III. 61. Coffee, chocolate, ices, and sorbets are offered beneath the pavilions of the terras.
1834. Beckford, Italy, I. 117. They resorted to drink coffee and sorbet, with laughter and merriment.
1844. trans. M. T. Asmar’s Mem. Babylonian Princ., II. 27. After some moments spent in mutual civilities, sorbets were served.
2. A variety of sweetmeat or ice.
1864. Daily Telegr., 27 Sept., 5/6. The menu … meandered gracefully through fish, flesh, fowl, and truffles, and finally melted away into sorbets.
1885. Mabel Collins, Prettiest Woman, v. The sorbets are delicious sweets of almonds, pistachio, chocolate, or coffee.
