Spanish

Inherited from Middle English Spanisch, either an alteration of Spaynisch after foreign words for "Spain" or "Spanish" such as Old Spanish Espanna, Old Spanish espannol or a partial calque of them; equivalent to Spain +‎ -ish.

Sense of "licorice" derives from a local legend in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, where twigs that washed up onto the beaches from the wreckage of a galleon from the Spanish armada were found to be licorice roots.