Dessert: The Course Named After Clearing the Table
Dessert is the sweet course at the end of a meal. The name comes from the French for clearing away, because the table was cleared before it arrived.
Dessert is the sweet course served last. The name describes the ritual rather than the food: French *desservir* means to clear the table, and dessert was whatever came after everything else had been taken away.
- The sweet course of a meal. *What is for dessert?*
- A dish served at that point. *A chocolate dessert.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | dessert | A rich dessert. |
| Plural | desserts | Three desserts to choose from. |
| Compound | dessert wine | A sweet dessert wine. |
| Compound | dessert spoon | Use a dessert spoon. |
| Confusable | desert | The Sahara desert. |
How it is used in a sentence
- We had ice cream for dessert.For dessert — no article.
- The dessert menu arrived unasked.Attributive use.
- In Britain many people say pudding instead.Class and region both play a part in the choice.
Dessert, pudding, sweet and afters
- Dessert — the international and restaurant term
- Pudding — the most common British word, whatever the dish
- Sweet — used in parts of Britain, and slightly dated
- Afters — informal British, and disappearing
- Pudding can also mean one specific dish, which makes British menus confusing
From French *dessert*, from *desservir*, to clear the table, from *des* (away) and *servir*, to serve. The double s distinguishes it from *desert*, which has one s and a different stress.
Dessert or desert?
Dessert has two s letters, like Sweet Stuff. Desert with one s is arid land, or the verb meaning to abandon.
Pudding or dessert in Britain?
Pudding is the more common everyday word. Dessert appears on menus and in more formal settings.