beignet

American  

[ben-yey, be-nye] / bɛnˈyeɪ, bɛˈnyɛ /

noun

plural

beignets

1. a fritter or doughnut.

2. French Cooking. any fruit, vegetable, seafood, etc., dipped in batter and deep-fried.

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beignet British  

/ ˈbɛnjeɪ /

noun

1. a square deep-fried pastry served hot and sprinkled with icing sugar

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Etymology

Origin of beignet

1830–35, < Louisiana French beignet ( def. 1 ), French beignet ( def. 2 ), Middle French bignet pastry filled with fruit or meat, equivalent to buyne literally, bruise, lump from a blow (of uncertain origin; bunion ) + -et -et

Example Sentences

Here’s the key: Barry, Sally and NoHo Hank respectively get advice from beignet baker Mitch.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2022

Good idea: Filling your mouth with a warm beignet.

From Washington Post • Oct. 21, 2021

In pastelillos de guayaba, guava — the epitome of tropical flavor — is balanced by crumbly, salty queso en hoja, fresh cheese, which is baked into a beignet and delightfully dusted with powdered sugar.

From New York Times • Mar. 22, 2021

Nothing new about that, even if the humor has, by now, grown staler than a day-old French Quarter beignet.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2013

Conversation stretched between them like beignet dough, rising and falling and turning into something new and unexpected.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton