éclair

[ey-klair, ih-klair, ey-klair]

noun

1. a finger-shaped cream puff, filled with whipped cream, custard, or pastry cream, often coated with icing.

éclair

/ ɪˈklɛə, eɪˈklɛə /

noun

1. a finger-shaped cake of choux pastry, usually filled with cream and covered with chocolate

Word History and Origins

Origin of éclair¹

1860–65; < French: literally, lightning (flash), Old French esclair, noun derivative of esclairier to light, flash < Vulgar Latin *exclariāre, for Latin exclārāre, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + clārāre to make bright, derivative of clārus clear

Word History and Origins

Origin of éclair¹

C19: from French, literally: lightning (probably so called because it does not last long), from éclairer, from Latin clārāre to make bright, from clārus bright

Related Words

• bread 
• doughnut 
• muffin 
• pastry 
• scone