lebkuchen

American  

[layb-koo-kuhn, layp-koo-khuhn] / ˈleɪb ku kən, ˈleɪpˌku xən /

noun

• lebkuchen
  plural

1. a hard, chewy or brittle Christmas cookie, usually flavored with honey and spices and containing nuts and citron.

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lebkuchen British  

/ ˈleɪbˌkuːkən /

noun

1. a biscuit, originating from Germany, usually containing honey, spices, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lebkuchen
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lebkuchen

An Americanism dating back to 1845–50; from German, from Middle High German lebekuoche; see loaf ¹, cake

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Explanation

Lebkuchen is a German Christmas cookie that's similar to gingerbread. Traditionally, lebkuchen is made with honey and spices, shaped into a soft, round cookie, and glazed with sugar or chocolate. There are many variations on this basic style, including the addition of dried fruit and nuts, various shapes, and even a cake version. The origin of this German word is uncertain, though we know the kuchen part means "cake."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lebkuchen

The messenger was Karl Heinz, a jolly red-nosed man who was spreading a gospel of German Christmases past and present: Eat lebkuchen.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2015

The Christmas markets in Aachen are famous for lebkuchen.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 9, 2015

"Once considered delicacies found only at trips to Christmas markets, German-style cakes and bakes such as stollen and lebkuchen are now considered festive staples in British shopping baskets," says Marianne Robson, Waitrose's Christmas bakery buyer.

From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2014

Lorissa decorated the lounge with cotton-ball snow and we sang all the carols and ate the lebkuchen.

From Nature ● Jul. 22, 2014

Any one who has witnessed a German Christmas will remember the extraordinary variety of them, lebkuchen, pfeffernüsse, printen, spekulatius biscuits, &c.

From Christmas in Ritual and Tradition, Christian and Pagan by Clement A. Miles

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