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• rusk
  rusk

  noun

  a slice of sweet raised bread dried and baked again in the oven; zwieback.
• Rusk
  Rusk

  noun

  (David) Dean, 1909–94, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1961–69.

rusk

¹ American  

[ruhsk] / rʌsk /

noun

1. a slice of sweet raised bread dried and baked again in the oven; zwieback.

2. light, soft, sweetened biscuit.

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Rusk ² American  

[ruhsk] / rʌsk /

noun

1. (David) Dean, 1909–94, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1961–69.

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Rusk ¹ British  

/ rʌsk /

noun

1. ( David ) Dean . 1909–94, US statesman: secretary of state (1961–69). He defended US military involvement in Vietnam and opposed recognition of communist China

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rusk ² British  

/ rʌsk /

noun

1. a light bread dough, sweet or plain, baked twice until it is brown, hard, and crisp: often given to babies

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Etymology

Origin of rusk

1585–95; alteration Spanish or Portuguese rosca twist of bread, literally, screw

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Explanation

A rusk is a very hard, dry cookie or bread that's commonly given to babies to gnaw on. You can also serve rusks at a party with cheese or a tasty dip. Rusks go through the baking process at least twice. By definition, hard cookies like Italian biscotti and crispy flatbreads like melba toast qualify as rusks, since both are twice — baked and have a dry, crisp texture. The term rusk most commonly applies specifically to the hard cookies that teething babies can safely chew on. The word comes from the Spanish rosca, "twist of bread."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rusk Rusk

But a few of the cockatoos are more discriminating, customizing their meals with one final flourish: Before eating the rock-hard rusk, they dunk it in a tub of water.

From New York Times ● Dec. 12, 2023

Some restaurants will also serve breakfast with fruit pudding, a mix of flour, rusk, oatmeal and fruit.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2021

In 1972: sautéed frog legs Provençal, creamed Welsh rabbit on a Holland rusk, and, in a gust of brand names, “Hollywood Diet Bread” and “Steamed Uncle Ben’s Rice.”

From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2017

I feel too fat to finish my rusk.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 13, 2013

Dr. Trefusis paused in his enjoyment of a rusk.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Rusk, where the high court grappled with a naturalized citizen being stripped of her citizenship for returning to her home country for a few years.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

Officials in Rusk County, near the Louisiana border, said that more than 100 vehicles there had been damaged by a hailstorm.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2023

So when he got an offer from Washington State while at West Rusk High School in Texas, he jumped at the chance to join a Power Five program in his dad’s home state.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

Ms Rusk was stylist to the stars and her clients included the Duchess of Kent, actress Greta Scacchi and singer Sharleen Spiteri.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2022

The battle was on at the Bay of Pigs, Cabell told Rusk, but the landing was taking longer than expected.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

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Related Words

• biscuit
• cookie
• pretzel

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