cloche

noun

1
: a bell- or dome-shaped cover:
a
: a glass or plastic cover used to protect small outdoor plants from frost
also : a similar cover used indoors to display or protect ornamental objects
b
: a cover (as of metal or ceramic) placed over food during preparation or serving
2
: a woman's close-fitting hat usually with deep rounded crown and narrow brim

Did you know?

Does the meaning of cloche ring a bell?

The word cloche refers to very different things but the connection between them is apparent in the word's meaning: cloche is French for "bell," and both the gardening cloche and the hat cloche are typically shaped like the archetypal bell. The gourmands among you may be aware of another kind of cloche as well. Covered in our unabridged dictionary, Webster's Third New International, cloche also refers to a bell-shaped cover placed over food in cooking or serving. The French word cloche comes from Medieval Latin clocca, which is also the source of the words "cloak" and "clock."

Examples of cloche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Covering these plants with frost blankets or cloches also extends the harvesting too, but brassicas usually have the best flavor if they are picked right after the first or second frost. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025 Wine bars rattled with glasses as small plates replaced silver cloches, moules in Staub cocottes replaced yellowtail crudos. Mehr Singh, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2025 The physical award — a glass cloche — was created by last year’s special mention prize recipient Francesco Ballestrazzi. Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2025 Turndown service includes a creative bite made by the resort’s pastry chef and displayed under a glass cloche. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cloche

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bell, from Medieval Latin clocca

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cloche was in 1882

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Cite this Entry

“Cloche.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloche. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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