simnel cake

Meanings

1. A rich fruit cake, with a decorated marzipan covering, traditionally eaten on Simnel Sunday or Easter.

Etymology

From Middle English simenel (also simle), from Old French simenel (“fine wheat flour; flat bread cake, Lenten cake”), probably by dissimilation from Vulgar Latin *siminellus, a diminutive of Latin simila (“fine flour”) (see semolina). Compare also Middle Dutch semel, Middle Low German semele.