Meringue

Pronunciation

• enPR: mÉ™-răng', IPA: /məˈɹæŋ/
• (also) US enPR: mÉ™-rāng', IPA: /məˈɹeɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -æŋ

Origin

Borrowing from fr {{2}} meringue, from Middle Dutch meringue ("light evening meal"), derivative of Middle Dutch *meren ("to dip or soak bread"), from Old Dutch *meren, from Proto-Germanic *marjaną ("to grind, pound"), from Proto-Indo-European *mer- ("to rub, pack"). Cognate with Middle Low German meringe (from mern ("to dip bread in wine")), Middle High German merunge (from mëren ("to soak bread in wine or water for dinner")), Old English merian ("to purify, cleanse, test").

Alternate etymology derives Old Dutch *meren, from Proto-Germanic *marhin ("soup of bread and wine or water"), from Proto-Indo-European *mark-, *merk- ("wet").

Full definition of meringue

Noun

1. A mixture consisting of beaten egg whites and sugar which is added to the tops of pies then browned.The key to a good baked Alaska is the meringue topping.
2. A shell made of this mixture which serves as the receptacle for fruit, ice cream or sherbet.Shirley likes to have strawberry with her meringue.

Derived terms

• lemon meringue pie