Bakewell

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small market town in the Peak District of Derbyshire, England, known for its old streets and local shops ; a sweet pastry with a layer of jam and an almond-flavoured filling
2. A historic town set in the Derbyshire Dales of central England ; an English dessert made from a shortcrust case with jam beneath a sponge or almond topping
3. An English town in Derbyshire famed for its local confectionery ; a traditional tart with raspberry or other jam and a rich almond filling

Etymology: Bakewell is a market town in Derbyshire, England, and its name is older than almost anything else about it. It comes from the Old English personal name Badeca combined with "wella", meaning "spring" or "stream", so the name roughly means "Badeca's spring." The town's name is a record of a person who once owned or was associated with a water source there, long before the place became known for its puddings. The lowercase "bakewell" is simply the same name written without a capital letter. When it appears in that form, it refers to the place's famous dessert, the Bakewell pudding or tart, rather than the town itself. The pastry's own origins are a separate story and are not part of the place name's history.