custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkə-stərd How to pronounce custard (audio)
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 adjective

Examples of custard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Wyatt said that coffee pairs well with flavors like these, and suggested adding a little espresso powder to the custard. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 19 June 2025 Single-serve strawberry pistachio tartlets and Fresh fruit tartlets with vanilla custard cost about $4.55. Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 16 June 2025 Also on the menu are frozen custards, chicken sandwiches and tenders, and seafood options like shrimp and cod. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 June 2025 Frozen custard fans can order their $1 scoop in-store, online or in the Culver’s app, the restaurant said. Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for custard

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of custard was circa 1616

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custard. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

custard

noun
cus·​tard ˈkəs-tərd How to pronounce custard (audio)
: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen

More from Merriam-Webster on custard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!