plum-pudding
Definition
Noun (countable/uncountable) - A rich steamed or boiled pudding containing dried fruits (such as raisins, currants, and plums), spices, suet, and often candied peel, traditionally served at Christmas. It is also known as Christmas pudding.
Usage Examples
- (A rich fruit pudding served as a festive treat.)
- (The pudding needs time to mature before serving.)
Advanced Usage
- "to have a plum-pudding": to eat or serve this specific dish.
- Every year, my grandmother insists we have a plum-pudding after the holiday meal. (She always prepares this traditional Christmas pudding.)
Variants and Related Words
- Plum-pudding dog (n): a historical term for a Dalmatian dog, referring to its spotted coat resembling the raisins in a plum-pudding.
- The carriage was accompanied by a plum-pudding dog, its spots standing out against the snow. (A Dalmatian dog with its characteristic spots.)
Synonyms
- Christmas pudding: the most common synonym, used especially in British English.
- Figgy pudding: a similar but distinct dish, often mentioned in carols like "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
Related Idioms
- "Plum-pudding" as a symbol: In 19th-century English literature, "plum-pudding" sometimes symbolises British tradition and domestic comfort.
- The novel described a quintessentially English Christmas with a steaming plum-pudding at the centre of the table. (The pudding represented cultural tradition.)