Dictionary

French dressing en · NOUN

Etymology

Named in the Anglophone world for the early origins, in French vinaigrettes, that inspired later versions, although the present-day conventions for the dressing's composition do not directly reflect the original French influence; more at Wikipedia. Compare French fries regarding the name mostly not reflecting any direct French influence.

Meanings

1. (uncountable, usually) A mixture of vinegar, oil and other herbs or flavourings (vinaigrette).
   • CREAM CHEESE AND CUCUMBER SANDWICH: On thin slices of lightly buttered brown bread spread cream cheese; over same sprinkle chopped cucumbers that have been mixed with a little French dressing. Cover with another slice of lightly buttered brown bread. 1909, Eva Greene Fuller, The Up-To-Date Sandwich Book: 400 Ways to Make a Sandwich, page 118:
2. (US, uncountable, usually) A salad dressing that is a uniform viscous sauce with a tangy sweet flavor. It is generally made from vegetable oil, vinegar, ketchup (or tomato puree), water, paprika, other spices, and sweeteners.
3. (Canada, uncountable, usually) A salad dressing that is a uniform viscous sauce with a tangy sweet flavour. It is generally made from vegetable oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, water, and spices.

Forms

Coordinates

Thousand Island dressing and Russian dressing · Italian dressing

Hypernyms

salad dressing

Synonyms

French salad dressing · Catalina dressing (U.S. viscous dressing) · vinaigrette

Translations (9)

fi ranskalainen salaattikastike (mixture of vinegar, oil and other herbs or flavourings) · fr vinaigrette à la française (Canada: a salad dressing) · pl sos sałatkowy (US: a salad dressing) · pl sos sałatkowy (Canada: a salad dressing) · fi amerikkalainen salaattikastike (US: a salad dressing) · fr vinaigrette (mixture of vinegar, oil and other herbs or flavourings) · fr vinaigrette française (US: a salad dressing) · fr vinaigrette française (Canada: a salad dressing) · pl winegret (mixture of vinegar, oil and other herbs or flavourings)