What does hazelnut mean?
Hazelnut is the common name for the edible nut of a hazel tree and, less frequently, for the tree itself. The European hazel is the best-known source, although related species grow in North America and elsewhere. Hazelnuts have a firm brown shell and a mild, buttery flavor that becomes richer when toasted. They are widely used in baking, confectionery, sauces, and snacks, and they contribute their characteristic flavor to chocolate, praline, and nut butters. Hazelnut oil is also valued in cosmetics and cooking. The word is standard in British and American English, with “filbert” sometimes used for particular cultivated varieties. Although a hazelnut is called a nut in everyday speech and is botanically classified as a true nut, it should not be confused with a peanut, which is a legume. A related word, “hazel,” normally names the tree or shrub rather than the individual edible nut.
nounThe hard-shelled, edible nut of a hazel tree, especially the European hazel. By extension, the word can also refer to the hazel tree or shrub itself.
- The edible nut or seed of a hazel tree, used in cooking and baking.
- The hazel tree or shrub itself, especially the European hazel.
"She folded toasted hazelnuts into the batter for the cake."
"Roasted hazelnuts give this pesto a rich, nutty flavor."
"The garden path was lined with hazel trees."
The regular plural refers to individual nuts, although it can also refer to hazel trees when the context makes that sense clear.
"Hazelnuts grow in clusters along the branches of the tree."
A hazelnut is botanically a true nut, while its familiar partner the peanut is actually a legume.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hazelnut come from?
Hazelnut is a compound formed from the Old English words hæsel, “hazel tree,” and hnutu, “nut,” and was established in medieval English. German Haselnuss and Dutch hazelnoot preserve closely related Germanic elements. The French noun noisette also denotes a hazelnut and reflects the same broad nut lineage represented in the English word.
How hazelnut is actually used
The word is neutral and common in both British and American English. When referring to the plant rather than its nut, phrases such as “hazel tree” or “hazel shrub” are usually clearer.
Easily confused with hazelnut
A hazel is the tree or shrub, whereas a hazelnut is its edible nut.
A filbert is a cultivated variety of hazelnut, often larger and more elongated than the typical hazelnut.