"mashmallow", the confection

[Joel S. Berson]

The OED draft revision Sept. 2010 has "marshmallow", 2.a., "A soft
sweet confection made originally from the root of the marshmallow
plant and later from albumen, gelatin, sugar, etc.; a small cake of
this," from 1857 (Ft Wayne Sentinel, of all places).

 From EAN, the following.

1)  There is paste of mash-mallow in 1801:

New York Gazette and General Advertiser, 1801 Jan. 24, page 4, col. 4:

"Nothing better and more Agreeable, than The Paste de Guimauve, Or
Mash-mallow Paste. ... Joseph Delacroix ... ... has for sale the real
Paste de Guimauve ... which is the most efficacious remedy in every
kind of colds, asthmas, pains in the breast and consumption; besides
its medical qualities, its taste, is extremely palatable.  The
youngest children may use it with advantage ..."

[On its way towards a confection, as Coke was until they understood
what was really in it?]

And the next two have arrived at Confection:

2)   There is marshmallow syrup in 1802:

Evening Post [NY], 1802 Nov. 27, page 4, col. 4.  Advertisement.

"C. Chenelette Du[..]aussoir, Confectioner [probably] & Distiller ...
"Syrups.         ... Marshmallow."

[Among syrups of raspberry, pine apples, orange flower, lemon, etc.]

3)  And a different use for marshmellow paste a little later in 1802:

City Gazette and Daily Advertiser [Charleston, S.C.], 1802 Dec. 30,
page 1.  Advertisement.

"Magazine of the Lombards.  Mr Hennequin Olman, Confectioner &
Distiller ... [has] a variety of the most delicious Pastils and
Sweet-Meats ... introduced into this city by himself, from Jamaica
and Cape-Francois ... / Paste of Gouiave, from the Havanna / Do. do.
of Marsh-mellow / Marmalade of Apples ..."

[The children must have discovered just how tasty it was.]

Joel

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