Nougat
/ˈnuːɡɑː/noun
A sweet confection made chiefly from whipped egg whites, sugar or honey, and nuts.
Did you know?The English word traveled through French from Occitan, ultimately tracing back to Latin nux, meaning “nut,” the same ancient root behind nucleus.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kneu-
“A reconstructed root associated with nuts or kernels.”
Classical Latin
Latin
nux
“Nut; especially a hard-shelled fruit.”
Late Latin
Latin
nucatum
“A preparation or confection made with nuts; literally, something nut-based.”
Medieval Occitan
Occitan
nogat
“Nut confection or nut cake.”
16th Century
French
nougat
“A sweet made from nuts, honey or sugar, and egg whites.”
1590s
English
nougat
“A confection of nuts and sweetened whipped ingredients.”
Modern English
English
nougat
“A chewy or firm candy containing nuts, commonly used in bars and confectionery.”
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