gâteau

noun

gâ·​teau (ˌ)gä-ˈtō 

variants or gateau

plural gâteaux or gateaux (ˌ)gä-ˈtō(z)  also gateaus

1

: food baked or served in the form of a cake

eggplant gâteau

2

: a rich or fancy cake

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French gastel, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wist sustenance, food

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1