online medical dictionary | definition of jelly

Origin: Formerly gelly, gely, F. Gelee jelly, frost, fr. Geler to freeze. L. Gelare; akin to gelu frost. See Gelid.

1. Anything brought to a gelatinous condition; a viscous, translucent substance in a condition between liquid and solid; a stiffened solution of gelatin, gum, or the like.

2. The juice of fruits or meats boiled with sugar to an elastic consistence; as, currant jelly; calf's-foot jelly. Jelly bag, a bag through which the material for jelly is strained. Jelly mold, a mold for forming jelly in ornamental shapes.

<botany> Jelly plant, Australian name of an edible seaweed (Eucheuma speciosum), from which an excellent jelly is made. Jelly powder, an explosive, composed of nitroglycerin and collodion cotton; so called from its resemblance to calf's-foot jelly.

(01 Mar 1998)