Toffee

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈtɒfi/

Definitions

1. A confection that consists of sugar and butter cooked until it reaches a chewy consistency, often enjoyed as a standalone or incorporated into various desserts
2. A sweet treat characterized by its rich, buttery flavor and chewy texture, often flavored with chocolate or nuts as well
3. A chewy confection made primarily from sugar and butter that is cooked to a specific temperature, commonly enjoyed alone or as part of desserts

Etymology: Toffee is a variant of "taffy," and the two words have a tangled relationship. "Taffy" was the older form, and the sweet it named was a chewy, pulled candy. The change in spelling and sound from "taffy" to "toffee" is the alteration that the record points to, so the sweet and its name shifted together over time. Because the two words are so close, it is easy to assume they describe different candies, but they are one word in two forms. "Toffee" settled into the form most British and Commonwealth speakers use, while American English kept "taffy" for a softer, pulled version. The confection itself is cooked from sugar and butter to a precise temperature, which is why the same name can stretch across both a brittle sweet and a chewy one.

Synonyms: candy, sweet