baguette

/bæˈɡɛt/
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A crisp French loaf, a narrow rectangular jewellery cut, a small rounded moulding, and in slang an offensive label for a French person.

Examples

  • He packed cheese and a baguette for the picnic.
  • The cornice is finished with a narrow baguette.
  • The crust of the baguette cracked as she cut it.
  • They made small sandwiches from one baguette.
  • The restorer replaced the broken baguette on the panel.

Similar words

rectangular cut
French loaf
bead
step cut
French stick
small molding
French bread
small moulding
baguette cut
French person

Meanings

Long French loaf

noun
food
neutral
A long thin loaf of French bread, usually with a crisp crust and a light, open crumb.

Examples

  • She tore a warm baguette in half for lunch.
  • The bakery sold out of baguettes before noon.
  • A sliced baguette works well with soup.
  • He packed cheese and a baguette for the picnic.
  • The crust of the baguette cracked as she cut it.
  • They made small sandwiches from one baguette.

Similar words

Narrow rectangular gem cut

noun
jewelry
technical
A narrow rectangular gemstone, or the step cut that gives a diamond or other gem that long clean shape.

Examples

  • Her ring has two baguettes beside the centre stone.
  • The jeweller suggested a tapered baguette for the setting.
  • A baguette diamond gives the bracelet a clean line.
  • The watch face is framed with tiny baguettes.
  • A baguette cut looks longer than a round cut of the same weight.
  • The side stones are straight baguettes, not emerald cuts.

Similar words

Small rounded moulding

noun
architecture
technical
A small convex architectural or decorative moulding, similar to a bead and used on frames, panels, or edges.

Examples

  • The cornice is finished with a narrow baguette.
  • A gilt baguette runs around the mirror frame.
  • The restorer replaced the broken baguette on the panel.
  • The drawing labels the small bead as a baguette.
  • A baguette is smaller than the main round moulding.
  • The cabinetmaker used a baguette to soften the edge.

Similar words

Offensive term for a French person

noun
slang
slang
A slang insult for a French person, built from a stereotype and unsuitable in neutral or respectful speech.

Examples

  • The comment used baguette as an insult and was removed.
  • Do not call a French person a baguette.
  • The slur baguette reduces a person to a stereotype.
  • The article quoted baguette only to explain why it is offensive.
  • A style guide flagged baguette as offensive slang.
  • In neutral writing, use French person instead of baguette.

Similar words

Etymology

Borrowed from French baguette, meaning stick or small rod, from Italian bacchetta, little stick.

FAQ

What does baguette mean?

baguette most often means a long thin French loaf, but it can also mean a rectangular gem cut, a small moulding, or offensive slang for a French person.

Is baguette an English word?

Yes. English borrowed baguette from French, and it is a normal English noun.

What is a baguette in jewellery?

A baguette is a narrow rectangular gemstone or the cut that gives a stone that shape.

What is a baguette in architecture?

In architecture, a baguette is a small rounded moulding, similar to a bead.

Is baguette offensive slang?

It can be. Calling a French person a baguette is offensive slang and should be avoided outside discussion or quotation.

What is the plural of baguette?

The plural is baguettes.

How is baguette pronounced?

baguette is pronounced /bæˈɡɛt/ in English.

Is a baguette the same as a breadstick?

No. A baguette is a loaf of bread, while a breadstick is smaller and usually crisp all the way through.

What is a baguette diamond?

A baguette diamond is a diamond cut in a long narrow rectangle.

Where does baguette come from?

baguette comes from French and is connected to an older meaning of a small stick or rod.

Comments & contributions

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Tranquil Yak
Jul 15
the slang sense is real online but please dont test it on actual French people, its not cute
0
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Maple Fox
Jul 13
j'ai toujours trouvé drôle que baguettes = chopsticks aussi. first week in France I thought people were talking about bread at the chinese restaurant
0
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Pale Panther
Jul 11
baguette with cheese and butter is dangerous, whole loaf disappears and suddenly that was lunch
1
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Contribution
Onyx Heron
Jul 10
For diamonds, the corner thing helps: emerald cuts have the clipped corners, baguettes usually keep the square corners. If someone calls every skinny side stone an emerald cut, jewellers will probably correct it.
4
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Contribution
Candid Hare
Jul 8
In Spanish this word gets messy. I hear la baguette in Spain and Chile, but some places use el baguette, and in Argentina people may just say flauta for a similar long loaf
3
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Contribution
Quick Firefly
Jul 5
For British English, French stick is very normal on supermarket labels. It doesnt always promise a proper French bakery baguette, sometimes its just the long white loaf shape.
3
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Contribution
Quirky Turtle
Jul 4
In French the bread name still sounds like a shape word. une baguette can be a wand, a conductor's baton, a drumstick, or chopsticks in the plural. So baguette magique is not some magic bread lol
5
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Contribution
Neat Vole
Jul 2
If youre in France and the baker asks normale ou tradition, the tradition is not just fancy naming. pain de tradition francaise has legal rules: no frozen dough, no additives, basically flour, water, salt, yeast or levain. Costs a bit more but thats the one people mean when they rave about a good baguette
11
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