crust
UK: krʌst | US: krʌst
n. 1. The hard outer layer of bread, baked goods, or Earth's surface.
n. 2. A hardened layer or deposit on a surface (e.g., "a crust of ice").
n. 3. (Slang) Impudence or audacity.
The word "crust" traces back to the Latin crusta, meaning "hard shell or rind." It entered Middle English via Old French cruste, retaining its core sense of a rigid exterior. The Latin root also appears in words like "crustacean" (hard-shelled aquatic animals) and "encrust" (to cover with a hard layer). The semantic link between bread crusts, geological layers, and even metaphorical "hardness" (e.g., slang for boldness) reflects the enduring logic of a protective or resistant outer boundary.
She prefers to cut off the crust of her sandwich.
The Earth's crust is thinner under the oceans.
A thick crust of salt formed on the evaporating seawater.
He had the crust to demand a refund after breaking the item himself.
The pizza's crispy crust was perfectly baked.