zephyr
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈzɛfə(ɹ)/
ipa: /ˈzɛfɚ/
rhymes: -ɛfə(ɹ)
Forms: form: zephyrs
form: zephir
Etymology: From Latin zephyrus (“west wind”), from Ancient Greek Ζέφυρος (Zéphuros). Doublet of zefir, zéphire, Zephyr, and Zephyrus. The confectionery sense is a semantic loan from Russian зефи́р (zefír).
Senses: examples: text: The Western [winds] have been Counted the mildest, & most Auspicious of all others; and were so highly in favour with the Poets, that they thought them worthy of the Golden Age, and to refresh the Elysian groves. [...] But though the Breathing Zephyrs are so much celebrated in Poems and Romances, and happily were kinder to the delicious countries of Italy, & Greece, yet wee find no lesse malignity in their natures from particular accidents and climats, then what wee have observ’d of other Winds.
ref: 1671, R. Bohun, A Discourse Concerning the Origine and Properties of Wind, Oxford: Tho. Bowman, pages 149–150:
synonyms: westerly
glosses: A light wind from the west.
examples: text: O thou Goddeſſe, / Thou diuine Nature; thou^([sic – meaning how]) thy ſelfe thou blazon'ſt / In theſe two Princely Boyes: they are as gentle / As Zephires blowing below the Violet, / Not wagging his ſweet head; [...]
ref: 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 388, column 2:
text: The eaſterly or trade winds, which generally blow between the Tropics, are extremely refreſhing to the coaſt of Guiana, between the hours of eight or ten in the morning, and ſix o'clock in the evening, when they ceaſe to operate, and a zephyr is ſcarcely ever heard to whiſper during the night.
ref: 1796, J[ohn] G[abriel] Stedman, chapter II, in Narrative of a Five Years’ Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, in Guiana, on the Wild Coast of South America; […], volume I, London: J[oseph] Johnson, […], and J. Edwards, […], →OCLC, page 31:
text: The dusk of evening came on, soft in its solemnity, and unoppressive even in its gloom, under the sweet sky and unmolested zephyr, casting its pleasant shadows along the edges of the grove.
ref: 1835, William Gilmore Simms, The Partisan, Harper, Chapter XI, page 135:
text: It [a house] stood on a sharp bleak corner, where that tempestuous wind Euroclydon kept up a worse howling than ever it did about poor Paul's tossed craft. Euroclydon, nevertheless, is a mighty pleasant zephyr to any one in-doors, with his feet on the hob quietly toasting for bed.
ref: 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Carpet-bag”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 10:
glosses: Any light refreshing wind; a gentle breeze.
examples: text: The world hummed and spun about him. There was a whirling of zephyr skirts, four impassioned faces sweeping towards the open door of the passage that ran through the vicarage. He felt his position went with them.
ref: 1895, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, “At the Vicarage. Chapter X.”, in The Wonderful Visit (Macmillan’s Colonial Library), London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 39:
glosses: Anything of fine, soft, or light quality, especially fabric.
examples: text: In 1953 the Russian Republic Ministry of the Food Products Industry increased confectionery output 10% above 1952, including wrapped and packaged confectionery 46%, chocolates 57%, toffee 65%, fruit preserves, pastilles and Zephyrs 20% and halva—by 36%.
ref: 1954, The Current Digest of the Soviet Press, volume 6, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, page 11, column 1:
text: The French not only vastly expanded the Russian repertory of sauces, but they also introduced an entirely new range of light, airy desserts including creams, zephyrs, and mousses.
ref: 1992, Joyce Toomre, “[Introduction] French Influence on Russian Cuisine”, in Classic Russian Cooking: Elena Molokhovets’ A Gift to Young Housewives (Indiana-Michigan Series in Russian and East European Studies), Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, →ISBN, page 21:
text: For desserts there were “airy pie,” charlottes, mousses, kissel, plombir and “zephyrs.”
ref: 2003, Valentina Antonievna Seletzky, “The Evgoschino Interlude”, in Mosaic: A Child’s Recollections of the Russian Revolution, Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, Inc., →ISBN:
text: 2 tablespoons beet juice (optional—include it if you’re nostalgic for pink zephyr)
ref: 2017, Bonnie Frumkin Morales with Deena Prichep, “Zephyr”, in Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking, New York, N.Y.: Flatiron Books, →ISBN:
text: The Russian zephyr and bird’s milk fillings rely on agar as a gelling agent
ref: 2017, Karl F. Tiefenbacher, The Technology of Wafers and Waffles I: Operational Aspects, London: Academic Press, →ISBN, page 346:
text: When the zephyrs are firm to the touch, press the two zephyr halves together and roll in powdered sugar.
ref: 2019, Marvel Cook, “Black Currant Russian Zephyrs”, in Cooking Healthy and Loving It! 101 Happy and Healthy Recipes Including Gluten-Free, Diabetic and Vegan to Help You Feel Your Very Best!, Summit, N.J.: Cape Crystal Brands, →ISBN, page 31:
text: Stick 2 zephyrs together at the base and dust thoroughly with icing sugar using a sieve.
ref: 2019, Alissa Timoshkina, “Zephyrs”, in Salt & Time: Recipes from a Russian Kitchen, London: Mitchell Beazley, →ISBN:
related: word: zefir
glosses: A type of soft confectionery made by whipping fruit and berry purée (mostly apple purée) with sugar and egg whites with subsequent addition of a gelling agent like pectin, carrageenan, agar, or gelatine.
Derived terms: zephyr cloth
zephyrean
zephyrian
zephyr lily
zephyrous
zephyr shawl
zephyr worsted
zephyr yarn