croissant
UK: ˈkrwæsɒ̃ | US: krəˈsɑːnt
n. a buttery, flaky, crescent-shaped pastry of Austrian origin, popular in French cuisine
croissant = croiss<crescent> + ant<noun suffix>
- croiss<crescent>: Derived from French croissant (present participle of croître, "to grow"), referring to the crescent shape.
- ant: A nominal suffix in French, indicating the result of an action (here, "growing" into a crescent shape).
Etymology Origin:
The word croissant literally means "crescent" in French, named for its distinctive shape. It originated from the Austrian kipferl, a crescent-shaped pastry, which was introduced to France in the 19th century. The French adapted the recipe and named it after its visual resemblance to the crescent moon (croissant de lune). The term reflects both the pastry’s form and its French cultural adoption.
She enjoyed a warm croissant with her morning coffee.
The bakery specializes in freshly baked croissants.
He spread jam on his croissant for extra flavor.
The croissant’s flaky layers are achieved through careful folding of butter and dough.
In Paris, it’s common to eat a croissant for breakfast.