Word origins

• couturièreA woman who runs a business in custom-made fashion.
• couveuseAn incubator for sickly infants, especially those born prematurely.
• cracovienneA dance, the krakowiak.
• cramoisiecrimson
• CrampagnaA village in Ariège department, Occitania, France.
• crancelinA chaplet of rue, as used as a charge on the arms of Saxony.
• crapaudineA method of preparing fowl and poultry, where the back is split apart and the bird is flattened down the breast, looking somewhat like a toad; spatchcock.
• craquelinA kind of Belgian brioche filled with flavoured nib sugar.
• craquelureThe distinctive pattern of hairline cracks in the surface of an old painting.
• cravacheA riding crop.
• crècheA representation of the nativity scene.
• CreecyA surname from French.
• crémaillèreAn indented or zigzagging line of entrenchment used in fortification.
• crémantA type of French sparkling wine.
• crèmeSynonym of cream.
• crème anglaiseA liquid, sweet custard used as a topping for a dessert, as a dessert by itself, or as a base for ice cream or crème brûlée.
• crème brûléeA dessert of custard, covered by a brittle layer of browned sugar.
• crème caramelA baked custard with a soft caramel top.
• crème chantillySynonym of Chantilly cream.
• crème de cacaoLiqueur whose flavor is that of cocoa, and, often, slightly that of vanilla.
• crème de cassisA blood red, sweet, blackcurrant-flavored liqueur, which is an ingredient of kir, an apéritif.
• crème de la crèmeBest of the best; something superlative; the very best.
• crème de mentheA peppermint-flavoured liqueur.
• crème fraîcheA slightly soured thick cream (generally less sour than sour cream).
• crème pâtissièreConfectioner's cream, pastry cream.
• crêpe de chineA fine, thin fabric, usually of silk, that is used to make dresses or blouses.
• crêpe suzetteA dessert comprising a crêpe (pancake) topped with caramel and orange sauce and Grand Marnier, then flambéed.
• crepierA person who makes crepes, a proprietor of a creperie.
• crepiereAn appliance used to make crepes.
• crépinetteA small, round, flattened sausage, shaped like a patty, made from minced or ground meat or even from truffles, and wrapped in caul fat. They are usually cooked with an outer coating of bread and sautéed in butter.
• creponA thin fabric made from silk or fine wool
• créquierA highly stylized tree of seven (less commonly, five) symmetrical branches, typically also depicted fruited, typically identified in English and French heraldic works as a wild cherry or wild plum.
• CréteilA city and commune of the department of Val-de-Marne, region of Île-de-France, France.
• cretonA spreadable paste made from pork fat, ground pork trimmings, onions.
• cretonnadeA meat paste similar to cretons, but made with a meat other than pork.
• cretonneA strong, heavy fabric of cotton, linen or rayon, used to make curtains and upholstery.
• Creve CoeurA village in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States.
• crevetteA shrimp.
• cribbleA coarse sieve or screen.
• cri de coeurAn impassioned outcry, appeal, protest or entreaty.
• crime passionnelA crime of passion, especially a murder committed from motives of jealousy.
• croisadeA crusade; a holy war.
• croiséAn action in which one fencer forces the opponent’s blade into the high or low line on the same side, by taking it with the guard and forte of his own blade
• croissanterieA shop that sells croissants.
• cromornaA type of organ reed stop, sounding a tone resembling that of the oboe.
• croquanteA kind of crisp-textured cake.
• croque-madameA croque-monsieur with a fried egg on top.
• croquemboucheA French dessert made by piling profiteroles and other crunchy sweets in a tall shape, then pouring caramel over them to hold them in place.
• crosneA vegetable, of species Stachys affinis; a Chinese artichoke.
• crossetteA return in one of the corners of the architrave of a door or window.
• crotalA crotalum, a type of clapper used in Ancient Greece.
• crotaleA percussion instrument of archaic origin, resembling a metal castanet or cymbal.
• crottinA kind of small goat cheese.
• croupadeA leap in which the horse pulls its hind legs up towards the belly.
• croupiereSynonym of crupper (“armor for a horse's buttocks”).
• croustadeAn edible container (often of pastry) filled with a savoury food
• cruditéA crispy raw vegetable; an individual piece of crudités.
• cruditésRaw vegetables often served as an appetizer before a main dish; sometimes including fruits.
• cubageA cubic measurement.
• cubitiereThe part of a suit of armor that protects the elbow; an elbow plate; an elbow guard.
• cueilletteA subdivision of the parish of Saint Ouen, corresponding to a vingtaine in other parishes.
• CuenodA surname from French.
• cuirasseThe armour-like crust that forms upon the exposure of a lateritic soil profile.
• cuirassementThe process in which cuirasse is formed.
• cuirassierA cavalry soldier equipped with a cuirass (armor).
• cuisinierA cook or chef, especially in French contexts.
• cuisseDefensive armour (especially of plate) for the thigh.
• cul-de-fourA sort of low spherical vault, oven-like.
• cul-de-sacA blind alley or dead end street.
• culminantbeing vertical, or at the highest point of altitude
• culte du moiThe cult of the ego; ego worship.
• cultivageThe art or act of cultivating; cultivation.
• cunetteA trench dug in a moat to allow for drainage, or as an extra obstacle for attackers.
• cupelA small circular receptacle used in assaying gold or silver with lead.
• CussacA surname from French.
• custodeA custodian.
• cuttoeA large knife or small sword.
• cuvéeWine produced from a mixture of several grape varieties.
• cymeA “head” (of unexpanded leaves, etc.); an opening bud.
• cynismcynicism
• dacquoiseA dessert cake made with layers of almond and hazelnut meringue and whipped cream or buttercream, typically served chilled with fruit.
• DadouA right tributary of the Agout in Occitania, France.
• DageletSynonym of Ulleungdo: An island of Ulleung, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea
• DaigreA surname from French.
• DaillencourtA surname from French.
• D'AlembertA surname from French
• damasséA fabric which is woven figured like damask.
• dame de compagnieA woman's paid female companion.
• d'AmourA surname from French.
• DanaultA surname from French.
• DandjinouA surname
• dangerosityThe quality of being dangerous.
• danse macabreA conventional subject in art, literature and drama, or a particular work in that style, in which death (in the form of a putrid corpse, skeleton, the Grim Reaper, etc) is shown leading people to the grave.
• danseurA male ballet dancer.
• danseur nobleA male ballet dancer who projected great nobility of character.
• DantinA surname from French.
• d'AnversA surname from French.
• DarrigrandA surname from French [in turn from Occitan].
• dartreAny herpetic or other chronic skin disease.
• DaubentonA surname