Cronuts

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A hybrid pastry combining a croissant and a doughnut, resulting in a flaky and rich treat that can be filled with various sweet toppings
2. A delectable fusion baked good that merges the buttery layers of a croissant with the sweetness and shape of a doughnut, often glazed or filled
3. A trendy dessert pastry that integrates elements from both croissants and doughnuts, celebrated for its unique texture and flavor options

Etymology: The pastry that gave this word its name was invented in 2013 at Dominique Ansel's bakery in New York's SoHo neighborhood, when the French pastry chef set out to combine a croissant's laminated, flaky layers with a doughnut's frying and filling. The name is a blend of "croissant" and "doughnut," and Ansel trademarked the singular form, so "cronuts" is simply the plural of that trademarked coinage. The word is therefore a deliberate invention rather than an old term reshaped over time. Its two parts are chosen for what they promise: the first half points to the buttery, multi-layered dough, and the second to the fried, filled tradition of the doughnut. Because the name belongs to a single bakery's product, its spread into general English is a product of the pastry's popularity rather than of gradual linguistic drift.