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

Lawrence kept the rest of her look lowkey in an off-white cloche, oatmeal scarf, billowing black trousers, and black ballet flats. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025

Suspend them beneath a glass cloche on the bottom shelf of the bar cart. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2024

Michelle was met with a table set with food, candles, and a cloche that, when lifted, revealed Rick’s grinning head on a platter. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025

The looks are topped off with ceramic brooches and sculptures shaped like a scarf collar, in addition to cloche hats designed by Stephen Jones. —Joelle Diderich, WWD, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, bell, from Medieval Latin clocca

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cloche

• gnocchi
• loci
• pokey
• smokey
• smoky
• karaoke

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