gingersnap

American  

[jin-jer-snap] / ˈdʒɪn dʒərˌsnæp /

noun

1. a small, brittle cookie flavored with ginger and molasses.

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Etymology

Origin of gingersnap

First recorded in 1795–1805; ginger + snap

Explanation

A gingersnap is a crisp, spicy little cookie. Gingersnaps are perfect for dunking into milk, tea, or coffee. The gingersnap is also known as a "ginger nut," especially in the U.K. It's a sweet, brittle cookie that's flavored with plenty of ginger and often other spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg, and baked in small rounds. The predecessor to the gingersnap is the Cornish fairing, a little ginger biscuit that was sold at fairs in Cornwall as early as the 12th century.

Example Sentences

This gourmet popcorn gift pack from Bremerton features four seasonal flavors: hot chocolate, sugar and spice, gingersnap and snowman crunch kettle corn.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2023

And dessert was a banana split with fresh berries, gingersnap cookie crumble and doenjang caramel.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2023

Pie deserves a seat at the winter dessert table, especially one with dough that is rolled out on gingersnap crumbs.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2023

Think of it as: graham cracker meets gingersnap.

From Slate • Nov. 20, 2018

Rice, oatmeal, dehydrated potatoes, canned roast beef, gingersnap cookies, sugar, coffee, and chocolate were some of the items packed in watertight tin containers.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple