Zwieback
Noun
- A rusk or cracker made by baking a small loaf and then toasting slices until they are dry and crisp.
Example Sentences
“When I’m sick, I always want to eat my mom’s tomato soup with zwieback on the side.”
“Baby Anna is starting to teethe, and munching on zwieback seems to make her feel better.”
“The waiter served a basket of zwieback before dropping off the salads.”
Word Origin
German, late 19th century
Why this word?
If you’ve ever had an upset stomach or a teething toddler, you might have kept a box of zwieback in the pantry. This German word literally translates to “twice-bake,” which is basically how the crispy slices are made. The German company Brandt is the No. 1 manufacturer in the world of this “teething toast,” claiming to have even more name recognition in its home country than Coke. If you’re familiar with the product but don’t recognize the name, that may be because it goes by several monikers around the world. In the U.S. it’s often called “rusk,” while the French call it “biscotte,” and Italians refer to it as “fette biscottate.”