Etymology

café royale

Today it means: Coffee with brandy, sometimes served with spices, cream, etc.; (countable) a serving of this beverage. Full definition →

First used 1890
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The story

Pseudo-Gallicism (formed within English), from café (“coffee”), with postpositive (as usual in French) royale f, royal m (“royal”). Although café is masculine, the feminine form royale is used.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1890 Coffee with brandy, sometimes served with spices, cream, etc.; (countable) a serving of this beverage.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.