[Sca-cooks] Halvah marzipan or nougat?

[Suey]

I have a conflict here. My Spanish sources say halvah is a 
Hispano-Jewish type of nougat consisting of an almond-sugar paste with 
**flavored with other ingredients such as rosewater, honey, julep, 
clove, camphor or sesame. There are several variations using cashews, 
pistachios and other nuts. David M. Gitlitz & Linda Kay Davidson in  A 
Drizzle of Honey, The Lives and Recipes of Spain's Secret Jews clearly 
indicate that they think it marzipan not nougat. What was halvah before 
the 15th Century marzipan or turron? What distinguishes the difference 
between the two - baking? Yes, I know the Spanish versions clearly have 
a different taste but Gitlitz gives a Mexican recipe which sounds like 
turron to me. Why am I getting bottled up on this?
Suey