latke

[laht-kuh]

noun

Jewish Cooking.

1. a pancake, especially one made of grated potato.

Word History and Origins

Origin of latke¹

1925–30; < Yiddish < East Slavic; compare Byelorussian ( g ) latka, dial. form of aladka kind of pancake, Old Russian oladǐya ( Russian oládʾya ), probably < Greek elá ( i ) dion, derivative of élaion oil

Example Sentences

Not a trendy new fry or artisanal latke, but the humble McDonald’s hash brown— once a symbol of cheap, easy breakfast.

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Think of classic pairings: sautéed apples with pork chops, applesauce with latkes, or the tangy sweetness of prunes in dishes like Chicken Marbella.

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The end of the year marks the return of eggnog and latkes, gifting and regifting — and holiday-themed shows to bask in tradition, communal spirit and, yes, fun.

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The hook of the story is that all the bad guys want Aunt Petunia’s latkes because they are so delicious.

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Potato pancakes have a spiritual home in many world cuisines and cultures: from Jewish latkes to Swedish raggmunkar to Irish boxty.

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