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butterscotch

American  
[buht-er-skoch] / ˈbʌt ərˌskɒtʃ /

noun

  1. a flavor produced in puddings, frostings, ice cream, etc., by combining brown sugar, vanilla extract, and butter with other ingredients.

  2. a hard, brittle taffy made with butter, brown sugar, etc.

  3. a golden brown color.


adjective

  1. having the flavor of butterscotch.

butterscotch British  
/ ˈbʌtəˌskɒtʃ /

noun

  1. a kind of hard brittle toffee made with butter, brown sugar, etc

    1. a flavouring made from these ingredients

    2. ( as modifier )

      butterscotch icing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of butterscotch

First recorded in 1850–55; earlier also butterscot; the 2nd element of the compound is unexplained


Vocabulary lists containing butterscotch

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“People ask what would you do in your first days as governor, if you have the privilege of serving,” Yee said, as her butterscotch latte sat cooling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2026

The cake had a butterscotch frosting, which was brown and thus “weird.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The Pastry Project makes chocolate chip and butterscotch cookies.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2023

The chain also will offer new milkshake, which features Chick-fil-A soft serve ice cream, butterscotch caramel flavoring and blondie crumbles.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 16, 2023

The big stallion nickered and tossed his head, his neck muscles rippling under his butterscotch coat.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

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