zestnoun1
Meaning & use
- 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).
- 1674
Zest (Fr.) the pill of an Orange, or such like, squeesed into a glass of wine, to give it a relish.
, Glossographia (ed. 4) - 1712
Citron Oil..is made..by the Zest or the rasping or grating of the Citron Peel.
, translation of P. Pomet et al. Compleat History of Druggs vol. I. 150 - ?1750
Pour into the Palm of the Hand a little Brandy, with some Zist of Lemon.
, Primitive Physick (ed. 2) 76 - 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 - 1877
Parfait Amour is made of the bitter zest of limes.
, Kettner's Book of Table 328 - 1903
As he..fastidiously deprived the oranges of their zest.
, Beggar's Manor ii - 1974
Add candied peel, lemon zeste, salt and nutmeg and mix.
Homes & Gardens January 68/2 - 2014
Stir in the splash of vinegar, lemon juice, and zest.
New York Magazine 10 November 88/2
- 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.
- 1704
For he with toe Episcopale, Thereto gave such a zest, Their Lordships straight grew Squeamish all None could the same Digest.
, Hist. & Fall Conformity Bill (single sheet) - 1795
There you have game, and fowl, and fish, well drest, And neat old Port, to give the whole a zest.
, Town before You Prologue p. xiii - 1836
Mr. Wilkins had brought a pint of shrimps..to give a zest to the meal [sc. tea].
, Sketches by Boz 1st Series vol. I. 80 - 1847
The Native had private zests and flavours on a side-table, with which the Major daily scorched himself.
, Dombey & Son (1848) xxvi. 267 - 1848
‘I like these rides into the country’, said Vincent, as they began eating;..‘it is exquisite as a zest’.
, Loss & Gain 154 - 1856
We..renewed the zest of the table with the best salad in the world—raw eggs and cochlearia.
, Arctic Explorations vol. II. xxvii. 273 - 1876
For a cheap relish, a zest which shall make bread and butter supply the place of dinner, your fishmonger is your best friend.
, Dead Men's Shoes i. 8 - 1905
The mustard, prepared with spices and herbs, adds a fine zest to the blending.
Boston Daily Globe 28 February 3/1 - 1990
Leaves add zest to meals.
St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 14 December 2d - 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
- 3.1709–figurative. Something which imparts excitement, energy, or interest; a stimulating or invigorating quality which adds to the enjoyment or agreeableness of something.
- 1709
Monsieur St. Amant lov'd nothing so tenderly as he did the Baron;..he was the Zest to all his Pleasures.
, Secret Memoirs 107 - 1745
The Life of Life, the Zest of worldly Bliss.
, Consolation 61 - 1820
There was a quaintness too, mingled with all this revelry, that gave it a peculiar zest.
, Sketch Book vol. II. 134 - a1821
That sweet minor zest Of love, your kiss.
, I cry you Mercy in R. M. Milnes, Life, Letters & Literary Remains Keats (1848) vol. II. 305 - 1862
The sense that, perhaps, it was imprudent to take a cab or drink a bottle of wine, added a zest to those enjoyments.
, Adventures of Philip vol. I. xvi. 303 - 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 - 1976
The unexploded bombs that add zest to the scraper's life in Northeast Cove.
, Beautiful Swimmers ix. 212 - 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.figurative.
- 4.a.1758–Enthusiasm for and enjoyment of something, esp. as displayed in speech or action; gusto, relish. Frequently with for.
- 1758
The nymphs and swains in consequence of their late instructions enjoyed pleasure with a new zest.
New Atalantis (ed. 2) 28 - 1791
If I were to reside in London, the exquisite zest with which I relished it in occasional visits might go off.
, Life of Johnson anno 1777 vol. II. 160 - 1831
After travelling..for two or three days alone, when he arrives at an inn, it gives him a greater zest for society.
, Correspondence vol. II. 358 - 1843
She went to a lying-in or a laying-out with equal zest.
, Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xix. 236 - 1895
The Greek people had an almost unrivalled zest for life.
, Christian Doctrine of Immortality i. vii. 119 - 1927
So we bundle along over Germany, and very dull it is—Surely I haven't lost my zest for travel?
, Letter 29 January in Letters to V. Woolf (1984) 144 - 1969
He looked forward with juvenile zest to the delightful effect of a spoonful of sodium bicarbonate dissolved in water.
, Ada v. 570 - 2009
Her brushes with death have given her an extra zest for life.
Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 9 January 3
- 4.b.1818† to a person's zest: to a person's taste or liking. Obsolete. rare.
- 1818
That picture..Is loveliest to my mind of all the show; It may perhaps be also to your zest.
, Beppo xii. 7