What does filbert mean?
A filbert is the edible nut of the cultivated European hazel known botanically as Corylus maxima, distinguished from other hazelnuts by a husk so long that it completely encloses the nut. The word also refers to the shrub or small tree that produces the nut. Filberts are eaten fresh, roasted, or ground into pastes and flours for cakes, chocolates, and confections, and they have been grown in orchards across Europe since antiquity. In Britain, where gardeners distinguish between filberts and the shorter-husked cobnuts, the word survives mainly in horticultural writing; in North America, particularly in Oregon, 'filbert' has historically served as an everyday name for hazelnuts generally. Though less common today than 'hazelnut', the term carries a pleasantly old-fashioned, rural connotation, evoking hedgerows, autumn gathering, and centuries-old orchard traditions.
nounThe edible nut of the cultivated European hazel (Corylus maxima), having a long husk that encloses the nut; also, the shrub or tree that bears it.
- The long-husked edible nut of the cultivated hazel, especially Corylus maxima, eaten raw or roasted and used in confectionery and baking.
- The shrub or small tree (Corylus maxima) that bears this nut.
"She cracked a handful of filberts and scattered them over the winter salad."
"The baker folded chopped filberts into the chocolate batter before sliding it into the oven."
"An old filbert grew at the edge of the garden, its branches heavy with ripening nuts."
Standard plural; commonly used when referring to quantities of the nut in cooking or trade.
"The recipe calls for a cup of toasted filberts."
The name 'filbert' likely comes from St. Philibert's Day on August 22 — around when the nuts were traditionally ripe for picking in medieval France and England.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of filbert
The word filbert entered English in the Middle Ages, apparently from Old French, where the nut was associated with Saint Philibert, whose feast day fell around the time the nuts ripened. It thus belongs to a family of plant names linked to saints' days rather than to classical roots. Its ultimate source is Germanic: Philibert derives from a Frankish personal name, so the word reflects the blending of medieval French hagiography with everyday agriculture. Cognate forms appear in continental languages through the same saint's name rather than through shared botanical terminology.
How filbert is actually used
In British English the term is largely confined to horticultural contexts; the commoner nut of Corylus avellana is usually called a cobnut. In American English, 'filbert' often serves as an alternative name for any hazelnut, particularly in Oregon's commercial trade. The word has a homely, traditional register rather than a scientific one.
Easily confused with filbert
A cobnut is the nut of the related Corylus avellana with a shorter husk, while a filbert comes from Corylus maxima and its husk entirely encloses the nut.