cracknel

American  

[krak-nl] / ˈkræk nl /

noun

1. a hard, brittle cake or biscuit.

2. cracknels, small bits of fat pork fried crisp.

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cracknel British  

/ ˈkræknəl /

noun

1. a type of hard plain biscuit

2. (often plural) crisply fried bits of fat pork

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Etymology

Origin of cracknel

1350–1400; Middle English crak ( e ) nele < Middle French *craquenelle, metathetic alteration of craquelin < Middle Dutch crākelinc, equivalent to crāke ( n ) to crack + -linc -ling ¹

Example Sentences

Then the Kurilovka peasants presented Masha with an ikon, and the Dubechnia peasants gave her a large cracknel and a gilt salt-cellar.

From The House with the Mezzanine and Other Stories by Cannan, Gilbert

In the second act Louis, one of the princely lackeys, brings a large cracknel and huge paper-cornet of sweets for Cornelia, whom he courts and whose favor he hopes in this way to win.

From The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas by Annesley, Charles, pseud.

It elsewhere appears to be a sort of cake, or cracknel.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

He had explained to her among other things how cracknel biscuits were made and why croup was so swift in its action.

From Malcolm Sage, Detective by Jenkins, Herbert George

"Yes, it's 'licious," agreed Joan, with her mouth full of cracknel biscuit.

From Two Little Travellers A Story for Girls by Arthur, Frances Browne