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

Next the pilots loaded in rations prepared by their good fraus: sausage, chocolate, zwieback, hard-boiled eggs, bananas, lemons, orange juice, tea.

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

He rose promptly at seven o'clock each morning, put on his brown uniform, breakfasted on fruit, zwieback and a glass of milk.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

He was advised to use dry foods, such as toast, zwieback and shredded wheat.

From Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why What Medical Writers Say by Allen, Martha Meir