zesthttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zest_n1%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezest, n.¹
Revised 2018

zestnoun1

  1. 1.
    1674–
    The outer coloured part of the peel of a citrus fruit, esp. an orange or lemon, cut or scraped from the fruit and, having a particularly sharp or piquant taste, used as a flavouring or garnish. Formerly also: †the oil squeezed from such peel used to flavour drinks, etc. (obsolete).
    1. 1674
      Zest (Fr.) the pill of an Orange, or such like, squeesed into a glass of wine, to give it a relish.
      T. Blount, Glossographia (ed. 4)
    2. 1712
      Citron Oil..is made..by the Zest or the rasping or grating of the Citron Peel.
      J. Browne, translation of P. Pomet et al. Compleat History of Druggs vol. I. 150
    3. ?1750
      Pour into the Palm of the Hand a little Brandy, with some Zist of Lemon.
      J. Wesley, Primitive Physick (ed. 2) 76
    4. 1800
      To prepare lemon-juice you must first carefully remove the zest and then the white part.
      translation of E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange, Manual of Course of Chemistry vol. II. 173
    5. 1877
      Parfait Amour is made of the bitter zest of limes.
      E. S. Dallas, Kettner's Book of Table 328
    6. 1903
      As he..fastidiously deprived the oranges of their zest.
      R. M. Gilchrist, Beggar's Manor ii
    7. 1974
      Add candied peel, lemon zeste, salt and nutmeg and mix.
      Homes & Gardens January 68/2
    8. 2014
      Stir in the splash of vinegar, lemon juice, and zest.
      New York Magazine 10 November 88/2
  2. 2.
    1704–
    Something which adds flavour or piquancy to a meal, esp. as an accompaniment. In later use also: a piquant or pleasantly sharp flavour; piquancy, flavoursome quality.
    In quot. 1704 in figurative context. Cf. sense 3.
    1. 1704
      For he with toe Episcopale, Thereto gave such a zest, Their Lordships straight grew Squeamish all None could the same Digest.
      A. Maynwaring, Hist. & Fall Conformity Bill (single sheet)
    2. 1795
      There you have game, and fowl, and fish, well drest, And neat old Port, to give the whole a zest.
      H. Cowley, Town before You Prologue p. xiii
    3. 1836
      Mr. Wilkins had brought a pint of shrimps..to give a zest to the meal [sc. tea].
      C. Dickens, Sketches by Boz 1st Series vol. I. 80
    4. 1847
      The Native had private zests and flavours on a side-table, with which the Major daily scorched himself.
      C. Dickens, Dombey & Son (1848) xxvi. 267
    5. 1848
      ‘I like these rides into the country’, said Vincent, as they began eating;..‘it is exquisite as a zest’.
      J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain 154
    6. 1856
      We..renewed the zest of the table with the best salad in the world—raw eggs and cochlearia.
      E. K. Kane, Arctic Explorations vol. II. xxvii. 273
    7. 1876
      For a cheap relish, a zest which shall make bread and butter supply the place of dinner, your fishmonger is your best friend.
      M. E. Braddon, Dead Men's Shoes i. 8
    8. 1905
      The mustard, prepared with spices and herbs, adds a fine zest to the blending.
      Boston Daily Globe 28 February 3/1
    9. 1990
      Leaves add zest to meals.
      St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 14 December 2d
    10. 2015
      A hint of mint, a dash of pesto and a handful of arugula keep the meal surprisingly tasty, given punch by the zest of fresh tomatoes.
      Business Mirror (Philippines) (Nexis) 9 May
  3. 3.
    1709–
    figurative. Something which imparts excitement, energy, or interest; a stimulating or invigorating quality which adds to the enjoyment or agreeableness of something.
    1. 1709
      Monsieur St. Amant lov'd nothing so tenderly as he did the Baron;..he was the Zest to all his Pleasures.
      D. Manley, Secret Memoirs 107
    2. 1745
      The Life of Life, the Zest of worldly Bliss.
      E. Young, Consolation 61
    3. 1820
      There was a quaintness too, mingled with all this revelry, that gave it a peculiar zest.
      W. Irving, Sketch Book vol. II. 134
    4. a1821
      That sweet minor zest Of love, your kiss.
      J. Keats, I cry you Mercy in R. M. Milnes, Life, Letters & Literary Remains Keats (1848) vol. II. 305
    5. 1862
      The sense that, perhaps, it was imprudent to take a cab or drink a bottle of wine, added a zest to those enjoyments.
      W. M. Thackeray, Adventures of Philip vol. I. xvi. 303
    6. 1910
      Of the few nippy retorts that lent zest to the contest, one..is credited to Sir Robert Cranston.
      Westminster Gazette 7 February 4/1
    7. 1976
      The unexploded bombs that add zest to the scraper's life in Northeast Cove.
      W. W. Warner, Beautiful Swimmers ix. 212
    8. 2003
      I wonder if the literary techniques of grand narrative..might not have some use in giving breadth and zest to large subjects like molecular biology.
      Isis vol. 94 196/1
  4. 4.
    figurative.
    1. 4.a.
      1758–
      Enthusiasm for and enjoyment of something, esp. as displayed in speech or action; gusto, relish. Frequently with for.
      1. 1758
        The nymphs and swains in consequence of their late instructions enjoyed pleasure with a new zest.
        New Atalantis (ed. 2) 28
      2. 1791
        If I were to reside in London, the exquisite zest with which I relished it in occasional visits might go off.
        J. Boswell, Life of Johnson anno 1777 vol. II. 160
      3. 1831
        After travelling..for two or three days alone, when he arrives at an inn, it gives him a greater zest for society.
        J. Sinclair, Correspondence vol. II. 358
      4. 1843
        She went to a lying-in or a laying-out with equal zest.
        C. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xix. 236
      5. 1895
        The Greek people had an almost unrivalled zest for life.
        S. D. F. Salmond, Christian Doctrine of Immortality i. vii. 119
      6. 1927
        So we bundle along over Germany, and very dull it is—Surely I haven't lost my zest for travel?
        V. Sackville-West, Letter 29 January in Letters to V. Woolf (1984) 144
      7. 1969
        He looked forward with juvenile zest to the delightful effect of a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water.
        V. Nabokov, Ada v. 570
      8. 2009
        Her brushes with death have given her an extra zest for life.
        Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 9 January 3
    2. 4.b.
      1818
      † to a person's zest: to a person's taste or liking. Obsolete. rare.
      1. 1818
        That picture..Is loveliest to my mind of all the show; It may perhaps be also to your zest.
        Lord Byron, Beppo xii. 7

zest, n.¹ was revised in June 2018.

zest, n.¹ was last modified in September 2024.