sweetbread

noun

sweet·​bread ˈswēt-ˌbred How to pronounce sweetbread (audio)
: the thymus or pancreas of a young animal (such as a calf) used for food

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Shortbread is a thick cookie, and a sweetbread is not sweet and not bread. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2021 On the menu: steak tartare, veal sweetbreads, fillets of bass and a lively cocktail list. Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2020 The highlight is the coniglio e animelle, rabbit three ways: tender legs, sausage, and sweetbreads, topped with giant capers, crunchy snap peas, and a braise sauce sweetened with mostarda, made with apricot, pear, orange, and mustard. Jessica Henderson, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2019 Enjoy buffalo sweetbreads with bleu cheese mousse; burgers with garlic cheddar fondue; beef fat popovers; and a full New England clam bake. Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 25 July 2019 About that ris de veau: Bradley loves him some ris de veau, aka veal sweetbread. Michele Parente, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2019 Signs of spring surround veal sweetbreads sautéed to a precise snap: fava beans, pea tendrils and rhubarb compote flavored with only enough port to tease out the sweet-bitter elements. Bill Addison, latimes.com, 27 June 2019 One course, Tourte, consisted of a domed pastry filled with a chop of duck, foie gras and sweetbreads. Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Apr. 2018 Must-orders include tomato salad; Artichoke Flower Salad; sweetbreads; Israeli salad with tahini; veal cheek; Classified Cut; and malabi dessert with rosewater. Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2018 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sweetbread.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweetbread was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near sweetbread

Cite this Entry

“Sweetbread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetbread. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

sweetbread

noun
sweet·​bread ˈswēt-ˌbred How to pronounce sweetbread (audio)
: the thymus or pancreas of a young animal (as a calf) used as food

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