quilt

Definition

A bed covering made by stitching together pieces of fabric, typically in a decorative pattern; also used as a verb meaning to make a quilt or to piece together disparate elements into a unified whole.

Example Usage

Her grandmother quilted the fabric scraps from family clothing into a cherished heirloom.

Origin

From Middle English and Old French 'quilte,' derived from Latin 'culcita' meaning mattress or cushion.

Fun Fact

Quilting bees—social gatherings where women quilted together—were important community events in American frontier culture.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Advanced

Napper

To coat food with sauce so it's completely covered in a thin, even layer. Also the quality of a sauce having the right consistency to coat properly.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Advanced

Espagnole

A rich brown sauce made from brown stock, tomato paste, and a brown roux, then strained. It's one of the five mother sauces and the base for countless French preparations.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

mise cup

Small containers that hold prepped ingredients at your station, forming a rainbow of prep work that makes cooking feel like organized chaos. Lose one and your entire service falls apart.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Advanced

farce

A forcemeat stuffing or filling, usually for vegetables, poultry, or pasta—essentially seasoned ground meat mixture with French sophistication. Not to be confused with the theatrical term, though some presentations border on both.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Intermediate

salamander

The overhead broiler that finishes, gratinées, and occasionally incinerates dishes with concentrated top heat. Named after the mythical fire creature, which is appropriate given its destructive potential.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Beginner

Jujubes

A brand of small, chewy fruit-flavored gum candies sold in boxes at movie concession stands and candy stores. Known for their dense, rubbery texture and vibrant colors, Jujubes have been a staple movie theater treat since their introduction in 1920.

🍳 Food / Culinary

Translate This Term

See “quilt” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Advanced

tempered

In culinary terms, the delicate process of melting chocolate while maintaining its molecular structure so it dries with ...