cream puff

or cream·puff

[ kreem puhf ]

noun

1. a nearly hollow shell made from choux pastry and filled with custard or whipped cream.
2. Slang.
   1. a weak or timid person.
   2. a gay man.
3. Slang. a vehicle or machine that has been kept in unusually good condition or is very easy to operate:

   Wow, this old Rolls drives like a dream. What a cream puff!

cream puff

noun

1. a shell of light pastry with a custard or cream filling
2. informal.
   an effeminate man

Word History and Origins

Origin of cream puff¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

The one hotel in town was taken over by the women passengers, and the men slept on the train, eating cream puffs and fudge for breakfast and dinner.

From Los Angeles Times

Together, they climbed trees, ate cream puffs in bed, and danced in a field with their friends.

From New York Times

At least one cream puff team the Kraken play down the stretch is acting the part, losing four of past five.

From Seattle Times

"It's the kind of flavor of pistachio you might find in a pistachio cream puff," Ramirez said.

From Salon

The first challenge required contestants to bake eight identical cream puffs shaped like holiday characters — Lynch chose Christmas elves, filled with strawberry cream and topped with fondant hats.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• profiterole