crepe

¹

or crape

[ kreyp ]

noun

1. a lightweight fabric of silk, cotton, or other fiber, with a finely crinkled or ridged surface.
2. a usually black band or piece of this material, worn as a token of mourning.
3. a thin, light, delicate pancake.
4. crepe paper.
5. crepe rubber.

verb (used with object)

, creped, crep·ing.

1. to cover, clothe, or drape with crepe.

crêpe

²

[ kreyp; krepor, French, krep ]

noun

, plural crêpes [kreyps, kreps, k, r, ep].

1. crepe ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. crepe ( def 3 ).

crepe

/ kreɪp /

noun

1. 1. a light cotton, silk, or other fabric with a fine ridged or crinkled surface
   2. ( as modifier )

      a crepe dress

2. a black armband originally made of this, worn as a sign of mourning
3. a very thin pancake, often rolled or folded around a filling
4. short for crepe paper crepe rubber

verb

1. tr to cover or drape with crepe

Word History and Origins

Origin of crepe¹

1790–1800; < French < Latin crispus curled, wrinkled

Origin of crepe²

From French; crepe

Word History and Origins

Origin of crepe¹

C19: from French crêpe, from Latin crispus curled, uneven, wrinkled

Example Sentences

They’re kind of a cross between a crepe and a pancake, and they are indescribable.

From Los Angeles Times

You can make a savory crêpe with egg, cheese and asparagus and you can also make oven-baked buckwheat chips.

From Salon

“As a native Californian who has lived here my entire 72 years, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. The natural beauty is unbeatable — we have it all. Ocean, lakes, farmlands, deserts, stunning mountains, wild rivers and the vast Central Valley. Rolling hills that are stunningly green in spring, and golden in summer; majestic heritage oak trees; diverse evergreens; towering mighty redwoods. In Sacramento, the flowers take turns on center stage through the seasons, with gorgeous camellias, tulips, azaleas, dogwood trees, colorful crepe myrtles and abundant roses.”

From New York Times

Corsets, heavy wigs and other restrictive sartorial norms were tossed off to make way for flowing, transparent dresses, handbags as statement pieces and toucan feathers sewn into white crepe dresses — a look that Joséphine Bonaparte, future empress of France, wore to a ball.

From New York Times

Boxty may even be grilled thin enough to stand in as a potato crepe wrapped around various fillings.

From Salon

Related Words

• cake
• waffle