eclair

Where does the word "eclair" come from? It comes from French eclair, and was adopted directly into English (1861).

Eclair’s story begins in French: eclair meant “lightning, a flash.” Literally lightning, possibly describing how quickly the pastry is eaten or its glossy shine. It reached English by 1861 as eclair. French 'lightning', perhaps because it is eaten in a flash; credited to the chef Antonin Carême. Today, eclair means a long, thin pastry filled with cream and topped with icing.

1. Stage 1 · French · 1800s eclair "lightning, a flash", literally lightning, possibly describing how quickly the pastry is eaten or its glossy shine.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1861 eclair "a long pastry filled with cream and topped with icing", French 'lightning', perhaps because it is eaten in a flash; credited to the chef Antonin Carême.