parfait
UK[ˈpɑːfeɪ]US[pɑrˈfeɪ]
n
A rich cold dessert made with layers of cream, fruit, syrup, and sometimes ice cream or other ingredients.
n
A smooth, light frozen dessert made from a base of sugar syrup, egg, and cream.
Etymology
The English word 'parfait' is a direct borrowing from French, where it literally means "perfect." This culinary term entered English in the late 19th century, originally referring to a kind of frozen dessert. The logic of the name lies in the dessert's rich, smooth, and "perfect" texture. The French adjective itself evolved from the Latin 'perfectus,' the past participle of 'perficere' (to complete, to finish), which is formed from 'per-' (thoroughly) and 'facere' (to make or do). Thus, the journey from the Latin concept of a "thoroughly made" or "completed" thing leads to the French sense of "perfect," which was then applied metaphorically to describe an ideal dessert.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from French. It is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in English. The French word 'parfait' is an adjective meaning "perfect," derived from the Latin 'perfectus' (completed, finished, perfect).
Examples
For dessert, she ordered a strawberry parfait with layers of fresh fruit and whipped cream.
This recipe for a frozen yogurt parfait is both healthy and delicious.
The classic French parfait is a smooth, custard-based ice cream.