zwieback

American  

[zwahy-bak, -bahk, zwee-, swahy-, swee-, tsvee-bahk] / ˈzwaɪˌbæk, -ˌbɑk, ˈzwi-, ˈswaɪ-, ˈswi-, ˈtsviˌbɑk /

noun

1. a special egg bread made into rusks.

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zwieback British  

/ ˈtsviːbak, ˈzwiː-, ˈzwaɪˌbæk /

noun

1. a small type of rusk, which has been baked first as a loaf, then sliced and toasted, usually bought ready-made

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Etymology

Origin of zwieback

1890–95, < German: twice-baked, equivalent to zwie twice + backen to bake. See twi-, bake; cf. biscuit

Explanation

Zwieback is a dry, crunchy baked good that's commonly eaten by Europeans. In North America, zwieback is often given to babies, who can safely gnaw on it with their gums. This word comes from the German Zweiback, which literally means "twice-baked," but is commonly used to mean "biscuit." The equivalent Italian word, biscotti, may be familiar if you spend a lot of time in coffee shops, but zwieback is less common in the U.S. These sweet, brittle cookies are made (just as the root implies) by baking the dough twice.

Example Sentences

"You smart thing," she says, "have a zwieback."

From Time Magazine Archive

On a diet of zwieback, Lasik sits in a druggist's window advertising the shocking effects of not drinking cod liver oil; later he understudies for a circus monkey.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Battle Creek Dr. Kellogg once had an irritating patient, a woman who broke her false teeth on a piece of zwieback he had prescribed; wanted him to give her $10 for a new set.

From Time Magazine Archive

Preachments against war have come to savor strongly of zwieback, a victual which most people can take or leave at will.

From Time Magazine Archive

Solid food, such as zwieback and milk or cereal, is begun at seven months, and by thirteen or fourteen months the child will be eating cereal, bread, broth, beef juice, potato, rice, vegetables, etc.

From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts by Bacon, Josephine Dodge Daskam