Crumpet

Pronunciation

• krÅ­m'pÄ­t,
• IPA: /ˈkrÊŒmpɪt/

Origin

17th century, either from crompid cake ("wafer, literally, curled-up cake"), from crompid, form of crumpen ("to curl up"); cognate to crumpled. Alternate etymology is from ; compare Breton krampoez ("thin, flat cake").

Sense of “desirable woman” attested 1936, possibly as cockney rhyming slang for strumpet; alternatively, compare tart ("loose woman, prostitute") (itself possibly cockney rhyming slang for heart or sweetheart).

Noun

1. A type of savoury cake, typically flat and round, made from batter and yeast, containing many small holes and served toasted, usually with butter.
2. (British, slang, uncountable) A person (or, collectively, persons) considered sexually desirable.Joan Bakewell was famously described as "the thinking man's crumpet".John and his mates have gone out to find themselves some crumpet.

Derived terms

• thinking man's crumpet

Related terms

• crumple, crumpled