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Definition of sweetbread

sweetbread

/ˈswiːt.brɛd/
sweet · bread
Plural:sweetbreads
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sweetbread Lexical Profile

sweetbread Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The thymus gland or pancreas of a young animal, typically a calf or lamb, prepared and served as food.

Example

"The chef prepared a delicate appetizer of pan-seared veal sweetbreads served with a rich wine reduction."

Word Nuance & Usage

Sweetbread is a culinary term for offal (specifically the thymus gland or pancreas) and is often falsely assumed by diners to be a sweet baked good or pastry.

• Nearby Words

sweet woodruff
sweetbay magnolia
sweetbox
sweetbread
sweetcorn
sweeten
sweetener

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 16th century, derived from 'sweet' (likely referencing the rich, mild flavor compared to muscle meat) and Middle English 'brede' (from Old English 'brǣd', meaning flesh or roast meat).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Sweetbread. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/sweetbread
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