vol-au-vent

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a light, hollow puff-pastry case filled with a savory mixture such as meat, fish, mushrooms, or vegetables in sauce

   The diners shared a mushroom vol-au-vent before the main course.

Borrowed in the nineteenth century from French vol-au-vent, literally 'flight in the wind.' The fanciful name refers to the exceptional lightness of the risen puff-pastry shell. English normally retains the French hyphens and forms the plural vol-au-vents.

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