plumcake

English

Alternative forms

• plum cake

Etymology

From plum +‎ cake.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• IPA^(key): /ˈplʌmkeɪk/, enPR: plŭmʹkāk

Noun

plumcake (countable and uncountable, plural plumcakes)

1. A cake made either with dried fruit (such as grapes, currants, raisins or prunes) or with fresh fruit.
   • 1833, Parley's Magazine, volume 1, page 23:

     Ellen's mamma was going out to pay a visit, but she left the children a large piece of rich plumcake to divide between them, that they might play at making feasts.

   • 1914, James Joyce, Dubliners:

     She decided to buy some plumcake but Downes's plumcake had not enough almond icing on top of it so she went over to a shop in Henry Street.

   • 1979, New Scientist, volume 84, numbers 1186–1187, page 26:

     He was barely 100 m up and directly below him a merchant was displaying some lovely fresh plumcakes. The display was naturally not improved by the sand.

Usage notes

• Since the meaning of the word plum has changed over time, many items referred to as plum cakes and popular in England since at least the 18th century have now become known as fruitcake.

Anagrams

• packmule

Italian

Alternative forms

• plum-cake, plum cake

Etymology

Borrowed from English plumcake.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌplumˈkejk/
• Rhymes: -ejk

Noun

plumcake m (usually invariable, plural plumcakes)

1. fruitcake, plumcake

Usage notes

• In Italian, the term often refers to variations made with other ingredients, such as yogurt, instead of fruit.