1945–50; < French < German (dial.) Küche, diminutive of Küchen cake
A quiche is a savory, egg-based dish that's cooked in pastry like a tart or a pie. You might enjoy eating quiche for brunch at your favorite cafe. You could describe a quiche as an omelet (or a non-sweet custard) that's baked inside a pie crust. Eggs are essential for making a quiche, often mixed with cheese, vegetables, seafood, or meat. Quiche is a French word that first appeared in English in the mid-20th century and became very popular around 1970. It comes from the German Kuchen, or "cake."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is a custom-made warmer for meals, with beef brisket and veggie quiche on the menu.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 29, 2026
Ad-libbing, in addition to quiche, was on the menu tonight.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
The pair tackled a savoury quiche, a technical teatime biscuit and a showstopping day off in cake form - although neither was crowned star baker at the end.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025
A half-mile northeast of that is Wild Rye Bakery, with a dozen Italian and French breads and pastries including focaccia, baguettes and lunch offerings such as quiche and ham-cheese croissants.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 24, 2024
“There’s a quiche in the fridge, and I told Señora Oralia that you’ll be here alone.”
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
Simon’s research has found that in the three departments where most Guatemalan migrants are from – Quiché, Huehuetenango y San Marcos – smugglers’ family rates have halved in recent months.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 8, 2019
Detainees are given medical care, information is provided in English, Spanish and even Quiché, an indigenous Central American language spoken by some of the new arrivals.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 7, 2017
They wrote love letters and spoke to each other by phone in Quiché, a Mayan dialect.
From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 2010
I was born in Chinique, El Quiché, Guatemala, in 1960, the year hell came to that country.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
During his travels in America he acquired a practical knowledge of several of the native dialects, particularly of the Quiché, which is still spoken in various dialects by about six hundred thousand people.
From Chips From A German Workshop - Volume I Essays on the Science of Religion by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)
Pattullo has added an intermission, with quiches courtesy of Kitchen Mouse and Just What I Kneaded included in the ticket.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
Fleuropean retreats run from $3,600 for five days and include accommodation at a picture-perfect château, all-you-can-pick flowers, one-on-one guidance from Avenson and meals, including morning deliveries of breakfast pastries, quiches and triple-crème cheeses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
The next day, she sent along a confusing list of menu options that included a recipe for ham mini quiches — a provocative choice.
From New York Times ● Apr. 24, 2024
Yes, pigs in a blanket, but also spanakopita, cheese puffs, mini quiches, crab cakes, bacon wrapped scallops, empanadas, dumplings, mini pizzas, jalapeno poppers and so on.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 30, 2023
Plates of petit-waffles, boiled eggs, tiny quiches, grape clusters, and sweet luna pastries are placed in front of me.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
