pret·zel  (prĕtsəl) n. A soft or brittle glazed biscuit that is usually salted on the outside and baked in the form of a loose knot or stick. [German Brezel, from Middle High German brēzel, prēzel, from Old High German brēzila, brezzitella, from Medieval Latin bracellus, alteration of Medieval Latin *brāchiātellus, diminutive of Latin bracchiātus, having branches like arms (in reference to the traditional form of a pretzel said to be made to look like arms folded in prayer), from bracchium, arm, from Greek brakhīōn, upper arm; see mregh-u- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Word History: In the early 1800s, the pretzel was considered a stereotypically German food, and the first known occurrences of the word pretzel in English date from the first half of the 1800s and are often found in descriptions of the German diet. Pretzel comes from a German word that is now spelled Brezel in modern standard German. The English spelling pretzel with p probably reflects the pronunciation of Brezel in one of the dialects of southern Germany. In many of these dialects, the letters b and p are pronounced identically when they occur at the beginning of a word, and they have a sound that reminds English speakers of a p. In Germany, pretzels are traditionally associated with Lent and Easter, and the overlapping strands of dough in a pretzel are said to represent the arms of a person with hands folded in prayer. In fact, German Brezel is ultimately derived from the Latin word for "arm," bracchium. Brezel comes from the Medieval Latin word bracellus, which referred to some sort of baked item, presumably like a pretzel. This Medieval Latin word is thought to be a shortened version of another Medieval Latin word, *brāchiātellus, that does not happen to be attested in any written documents preserved from the Middle Ages. In Latin, *brāchiātellus would literally mean something like "little thing with arms." It is the diminutive of another Medieval Latin word braciātus that is actually attested in surviving Medieval Latin documents and refers to some sort of baked good eaten by monks on holidays. This Medieval Latin word developed from the Latin bracchiātus, meaning "having boughs or branches like arms," itself a derivative of Latin bracchium, "arm." In this way, the history of the word pretzel accords with the widespread tradition that a monk living in France or northern Italy invented the knotted shape of a pretzel in order to symbolize arms folded in prayer. (click for a larger image) pretzel |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
FAQs
Pretzel comes from a German word that is now spelled Brezel in modern standard German. The English spelling pretzel with p probably reflects the pronunciation of Brezel in one of the dialects of southern Germany.
What is the meaning of the word pretzel? ›
pret·zel ˈpret-səl. : a brittle or chewy glazed usually salted slender bread often shaped like a loose knot.
What is the cultural significance of pretzels? ›
During the 16th century, pretzels were often given as rewards to children who learned their prayers, further strengthening the connection between pretzels and religious customs. The pretzel's shape was also associated with a range of symbolic meanings, including arms folded in prayer or a child's posture of humility.
What is the newest edition of the American Heritage Dictionary? ›
It is currently in its fifth edition (since 2011). Before HarperCollins acquired certain business lines from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2022, the family of American Heritage dictionaries had long been published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and its predecessor Houghton Mifflin.
What does it mean when someone sends you a pretzel emoji? ›
The emoji is commonly used in posts about pretzels and other baked treats. It's also commonly associated with Germany. and baseball ⚾. Sometimes, the emoji may be used as a metaphor for something “twisted,” like a pretzel.
What does the pretzel mean Christianity? ›
He named his creation “pretiola,” Latin for “l*ttle reward.” The three holes represented the Holy Trinity. In the centuries following, the pretzel made its way into history books and European culture. By 1440 the pretzel's form was a symbol of good luck, long life and prosperity.
What do Germans call pretzels? ›
The German name "Brezel" may derive also from Latin bracellus (a medieval term for 'bracelet'), or bracchiola ('little arms'). The pretzel has been in use as an emblem of bakers and formerly their guilds in southern German areas since at least the 12th century.
What was the pretzel a pagan symbol for? ›
They came to be seen as a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and spiritual fulfillment. The three holes in the traditional pretzel shape have also taken on religious meaning over the years. These are sometimes seen as being representative of the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Why are pretzels a philly thing? ›
While accounts vary, one source claims the first American pretzel was baked in 1861, about 75 miles west of Philadelphia in Lititz, Pennsylvania. As the story goes, sometime around 1850, bread baker Ambrose Roth obtained the recipe from a hobo as a thank-you for a hot meal and some hospitality.
What US state eats the most pretzels? ›
Over time, the pretzel became a staple and an integral part of Pennsylvania's culture and economy. The state is now known as the pretzel capital of the world, with Pennsylvanians consuming a whopping 12 times more pretzels than the national average.
Christian Roots
They believe the pretzel shape represents the holy trinity, the three holes representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Soft pretzels using a simple recipe of only flour, water, and salt were used during Lent when Christians were not permitted to eat eggs, lard, or any dairy products.
What are some fun facts about pretzels? ›
Here are some fun facts about pretzels:
The pretzel is long considered a good-luck symbol due to its religious roots. Pretzels without salt are called baldies. More than $550 million worth of pretzels are sold in the United States annually. The average American consumes up to two pounds of pretzels in a year.
What is the most respected American dictionary? ›
Merriam-Webster: America's Most Trusted Dictionary.
What is the oldest dictionary in the United States? ›
Noah Webster and America's First Dictionary
In 1806 Webster published A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, the first truly American dictionary.
What is the difference between the New Oxford American Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary? ›
The New Oxford American Dictionary is the American version of the Oxford Dictionary of English, with substantial editing and uses a diacritical respelling scheme rather than the IPA system.
Is it pretzel or bretzel? ›
Bretzel is the German word for what we know as pretzel. When creating his own pretzel company in 1911, Adolph Benzel gave his central Pennsylvania bakery the name of Benzel's Bretzel Bakery. A hundred years later, the name on the door of the family-owned business remains the same.
Why is a pretzel called a pretzel? ›
Some say they were originally called “bracellae,” the Latin term for “l*ttle arms,” from which Germans later derived the word “bretzel.” According to others, the earliest pretzels were dubbed “pretiolas,” meaning “l*ttle rewards,” and handed out by the monks when their young pupils recited their prayers correctly.
Why does a pretzel taste like a pretzel? ›
The answer lies in a brief dip in an alkaline water bath before baking. This bath essentially gelatinizes the outside of the pretzel, preventing it from fully “springing” during baking (as bread does) and giving pretzels their signature chewy crust. It also gives them their unique and indelible “pretzel” flavor.
Are pretzels a philly thing? ›
Philadelphia is a renowned food city, from James Beard Award-nominated chefs and restaurants to the local delicacies. Cheesesteaks may get all the glory when it comes to the latter, but insiders know that the city and countryside are prime pretzel territory.
(prĕtsəl)
