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

“Made in Minnesota! These are my great-grandmother’s recipe for gingersnap cookies,” Walz said.

From Slate • Oct. 17, 2024

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

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

She is 64, with short hair the color of a gingersnap and funky round-frame glasses that match her effervescent personality.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2017

Not me—like Juanita I was big boned, darkly bronzed from being out in the sun every day, and homely as a gingersnap.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall