A sweet delicacy or small fancy confection, especially a piece of candy or decorated pastry.
From French friandise, derived from friand meaning 'greedy' or 'sweet-toothed,' ultimately from Old French frier meaning 'to fry.' The word evolved to mean any small sweet treat or delicacy appreciated by those with refined tastes.
This word shows how French culinary vocabulary has influenced English, especially in the world of fancy desserts—it's the kind of word you'd find on a fancy menu next to 'petit four' and 'bonbon.' Interestingly, it contains the root idea of 'frying,' showing that historically, many special sweets were prepared by frying.
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