flan

[ flan, flahn; Spanish flahn; French flahn ]

noun

, plural flans [flanz, flahnz, flah, n]; Spanish fla·nes [flah, -nes]

1. Spanish Cooking. a dessert of sweetened egg custard with a caramel topping.
2. an open, tartlike pastry, the shell of which is baked in a bottomless band of metal flan ring on a baking sheet, removed from the ring and filled with custard, cream, fruit, etc.
3. a piece of metal shaped ready to form a coin, but not yet stamped by the die.
4. the metal of which a coin is made, as distinct from its design.

flan

/ flæn /

noun

1. an open pastry or sponge tart filled with fruit or a savoury mixture
2. a piece of metal ready to receive the die or stamp in the production of coins; shaped blank; planchet

Word History and Origins

Origin of flan¹

1840–50; < French; Old French flaon < Late Latin fladōn-, stem of fladō < Germanic; compare Old High German flado ( German Fladen ) flat cake

Word History and Origins

Origin of flan¹

C19: from French, from Old French flaon , from Late Latin fladō flat cake, of Germanic origin

Example Sentences

From the top of the menu to the bottom, Mi Vida offers a “dulce suenos” shareable dessert platter that includes items like an ice cream volcano and espresso flan.

From Washington Blade

I positioned an apple pie next to a pumpkin pie and a flan de queso.

From Washington Post

And a feast it is – yogurts with fresh squeezed fruits, salmon soufflé, raspberry flan, and always crepes to finish the meal.

From The Daily Beast

Last of all, a tall glass fruit-dish would arrive, the standard sweet—flan (caramel pudding).

From Project Gutenberg

Flan moulds are generally fluted, and about an inch and a half in height.

From Project Gutenberg

"You don't catch me that way," shouted Flan., with a drunken grimace.

From Project Gutenberg

Flan, don't you call that the true theory of the balance of power?

From Project Gutenberg

During this interval, the conspirators having learned, through their leader, Flan.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disc
• plate
• platter