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guimauve

marshmallow

noun gee-MOV Rare
Food & Drink Dishes

Origin: From Old French 'guimauve', from Medieval Latin 'bismalva', from 'bis' + 'malva' (mallow).

Also means

marshmallow plant (mallow)

Usage Note

Guimauve originally named the marsh mallow plant (Althaea officinalis), whose root was used to make a medicinal sweet — the origin of the modern confection. Today it primarily means the soft sugar confection (marshmallow). Figuratively, c'est de la guimauve is used dismissively to call something saccharine or sentimental, equivalent to 'it's cheesy' or 'it's mush'.

Examples

"Les enfants adorent les guimauves grillées."

Natural Translation

The children love toasted marshmallows.

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