zefir

From Russian зефи́р (zefír).

zefir (countable and uncountable, plural zefirs)

1. Alternative form of zephyr (“confectionery”).
   • 1963, Volker Hamann, Food Additive Control in the Federal Republic of Germany, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, page 16:

     Thus, confectionery products (candies, caramel, dragées, pastila, marmelad, zefir, the cream filling for pastry and cakes) may be coloured with any one of the three above-mentioned synthetic colours; […]

   • 2006, International Food Marketing & Technology, volumes 20–22, page 10:

     Foam cakes, zefir

   • 2018, Olesia Nikolaeva, translated by Alexandra Weber, “Non-Komsomol Gingerbread”, in Ordinary Wonders: Stories of Unexpected Grace, Jordanville, N.Y.: Holy Trinity Publications, →ISBN:

     I came home just in time to receive a phone call from Monk Leonid. / “I just read about zefir and marshmallows …” / “Fr Leonid,” I said in a steely tone of voice. “I am obliged to take back those textbooks with the recipes. The owner needs them back immediately.”

   • 2018, Tatyana Nesteruk, “Chocolate Raspberry Zefir Cake”, in The European Cake Cookbook: Discover a New World of Decadence from the Celebrated Traditions of European Baking, Salem, Mass.: Page Street Publishing Co., Macmillan, →ISBN:

     Zefir was my favorite childhood dessert; a sweet treat my mother bought for us on special occasions. Incorporating zefir into this towering cake just makes it that much more special!

   • 2019 August, Tim MacDonald, “Pavlova is good as gold when it comes to the Russian palate”, in Dorie Cox, editor, The Triton: Nautical News for Captains and Crews, volume 16, number 5, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Triton Publishing Group Inc., page 16, column 4:

     […] Russians love their sweets. It’s the only culture I have observed in which the men, on the whole, indulge in sweets – notably, honey cake, chocolate-cherry cake, mille feuille, lemon sorbet, Markiza Cake, and the ubiquitous Russian version of Pavlova cookies: zefirs.

   • 2022, Liv Arnold, chapter 8, in Stepping Stone (Invested in You; 2), Adams Basin, N.Y.: The Wild Rose Press, Inc., →ISBN:

     Angie, Sebastian’s assistant, walked across the room, stopping by every desk to offer a homemade zefir—Russian dessert resembling pink marshmallows.

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈzɛ.fir/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛfir
• Syllabification: ze‧fir
• Homophone: Zefir

zefir m inan (diminutive zefirek, related adjective zefirowy or zefiryczny)

1. zephyr (light refreshing wind; a gentle breeze)

   Synonym: wiaterek

2. zephyr (thing of fine, soft, or light quality, especially fabric)

• zefir in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Borrowed from French zéphyr, from Latin zephyrus.

zefir m (plural zefiri)

1. zephyr (wind)

zefir n (plural zefire)

1. zephyr (fabric)

• “zefir”, in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language) (in Romanian), 2004–2025

From Ottoman Turkish زفیر (zefir), from French zéphyr, from Latin zephyrus.

• IPA^(key): /ze.fiɾ/

zefir (definite accusative zefiri, plural zefirler)

1. zephyr (fabric)
   • 1937 November 5, advertisement in Cumhuriyet page 12:

     Çizgili poplinden / Erkek gömlekleri / 190 Kuruş / Zefirden yeni cins 225 Kuruş

     Striped poplin / men's shirts / 190 kurus / New kind from zephyr cloth 225 kurus

• Avery, Robert et al., editors (2013), The Redhouse Dictionary Turkish/Ottoman English, 21st edition, Istanbul: Sev Yayıncılık, →ISBN

• Hyphenation: ze‧fir

zefir (definite accusative zefiri, plural zefirler)

1. zephyr (fabric)

• “zefir” in Enedilim.com