1540s, "things made or sold by a confectioner," from confection + -ery. From 1803 as "place where sweetmeats, etc. are sold." Of architectural ornamentation, from 1861.

1590s, "one who makes confectionery," agent noun from confection. From c. 1600 as "one who compounds preparations of drugs."

1769 in the confectionery sense, "coating of concreted sugar," verbal noun of ice (v.). Earlier in this sense was simple ice (1723); frosting came later. Meaning "process of becoming covered with ice" is from 1881.