huître

oyster

noun WEETR Rare

Usage Note

Huître is the French word for the bivalve oyster, a centerpiece of French gastronomy. France is Europe's largest oyster producer; les huîtres de Cancale and les huîtres de Marennes-Oléron are prized appellations. Manger des huîtres at New Year's and Christmas is a national tradition. The plural is les huîtres; the circumflex on the î reflects a historical dropped 's' from Latin ostrea.

Examples

"On commande une douzaine d'huîtres."

Natural Translation

We order a dozen oysters.

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