custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkə-stərd 

plural custards

: a cooked mixture made of eggs and milk or cream and usually having a thick, creamy consistency

By the eighteenth century it had become the dessert we know today: a layered treat of sponge cake, custard, fruit, jam, whipped cream and spirits.

—Bon Appétit

We toss a laurel wreath to the chefs for their … pastitsio and moussaka, both of which sported a savory custard topping.

—Greg Morago et al.

Smooth and creamy, custard lends itself to a range of both sweet and savory dishes.

—Gabrielle Shaughness

custardy

ˈkə-stər-dē 

adjective

Examples of custard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s known for being extra creamy (almost like a custard) thanks to its yolks-only recipe and gets its memorable name from Blue Willow china, a beloved plate pattern in the South. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 July 2026

The sweet buns with vanilla custard are a particular speciality, and the ice cream sundae has been a local staple for 80 years. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 July 2026

Sure, Dhamaka still serves goat testicles and kidneys, but the once boldly presented brains at Adda are now tucked inside an obscuringly creamy egg custard. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

The mixture is cooked in a double boiler (or in a stainless-steel bowl over a pot of simmering water) until thick, creating a custard-like consistency. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, a kind of pie, alteration of crustarde, crustade, probably from Anglo-French *crustade, from cruste crust, from Latin crusta — more at crust

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing custard

• custard apple

Rhymes for custard

• blustered
• bustard
• clustered
• flustered
• mustard
• mustered

Kids Definition

custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkəs-tərd 

: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen