beignet

American  

[ben-yey, be-nye] / bɛnˈyeɪ, bɛˈnyɛ /

noun

plural

beignets

1. a fritter or doughnut.

2. French Cooking. any fruit, vegetable, seafood, etc., dipped in batter and deep-fried.

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beignet British  

/ ˈbɛnjeɪ /

noun

1. a square deep-fried pastry served hot and sprinkled with icing sugar

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Etymology

Origin of beignet

1830–35, < Louisiana French beignet ( def. 1 ), French beignet ( def. 2 ), Middle French bignet pastry filled with fruit or meat, equivalent to buyne literally, bruise, lump from a blow (of uncertain origin; bunion ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

To put it another way: No one has been confused that New Orleans Square has ghosts and pirates next to a cozy place for beignets.

From Los Angeles Times

“My parents think I’m on my camping trip. Plus I love beignets and po’boys and gumbo and pralines. Not crawfish though. I can’t eat anything that has eyes.”

From Literature

McIlroy’s introduction to New Orleans included a sampling of crab beignets from popular restaurant Le Petit Grocery on Wednesday night, a meal he shared with Lowry.

From Seattle Times

We ate beignets on Bourbon Street and went night swimming.

From Los Angeles Times

Conversation stretched between them like beignet dough, rising and falling and turning into something new and unexpected.

From Literature