cloche

noun

ˈklōsh 

1

: a bell- or dome-shaped cover:

a

: a glass or plastic cover used to protect small outdoor plants from frost

also : a similar cover used indoors to display or protect ornamental objects

b

: a cover (as of metal or ceramic) placed over food during preparation or serving

2

: a woman's close-fitting hat usually with deep rounded crown and narrow brim

Did you know?

Does the meaning of cloche ring a bell?

The word cloche refers to very different things but the connection between them is apparent in the word's meaning: cloche is French for "bell," and both the gardening cloche and the hat cloche are typically shaped like the archetypal bell. The gourmands among you may be aware of another kind of cloche as well. Covered in our unabridged dictionary, Webster's Third New International, cloche also refers to a bell-shaped cover placed over food in cooking or serving. The French word cloche comes from Medieval Latin clocca, which is also the source of the words "cloak" and "clock."

Examples of cloche in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Trays and cloches work great to corral the small pieces into tidier groupings, while greens and snowy cotton can create soft bases. —Sandra S. Soria, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024

With protection, tomatoes can survive for a while in fall, but floating row covers and cloches can only do so much. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024

Ingredients: 1 oz Macallan 12yo 1 oz Drambuie 0.75 oz Ginger/Honey Syrup 0.75 oz Lemon Juice Instructions: Stir ingredients in a rocks glass with a large ice cube, then smoke under a cloche. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024

They could be experienced wafting from oversized metallic flowers or from glass cloches. —Jennifer Weil, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bell, from Medieval Latin clocca

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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