What does rusk mean?
Rusk is a small piece of bread baked or toasted until dry, hard, and crisp. It is especially associated with Britain, where it is often sweet and served with tea, and is also common in South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand. Unlike ordinary bread, rusk is deliberately given a second oven treatment, or made from a firm dough, so that it keeps longer and develops a dry, brittle texture. Its relatively plain flavor makes it a useful base for butter, jam, cheese, or other toppings. Historically, the word also covered coarse, hard bread or biscuit-like food intended to keep well. Rusk is uncommon in much of the United States, where toast or cracker may sound more natural, but it is firmly established in British English. Knowing it therefore identifies a specific food category—dry, crisp bread that is more durable and crumbly than an ordinary slice.
nounA small, crisp piece of bread baked or toasted until dry and hard, often sweetened and served with tea or coffee.
- A small, hard, crisp piece of bread, often sweetened and used as a durable accompaniment to tea, coffee, or another drink.
"She buttered a rusk and enjoyed it with her afternoon tea."
"He softened a piece of rusk in his tea before eating it with cheese."
"The bakery sells traditional rusks alongside rolls and seeded bread."
The plural is regular and takes -s.
"The shop sells tea, coffee, and a variety of rusks."
Rusk is bread's second oven shift: it returns to the heat and comes out crisp, dry, and made to keep.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rusk come from?
English rusk descends from Middle English ruske, an old word for hard, dry bread. Its historical source is Scandinavian, connected with Old Norse brauð, meaning bread, so it belongs to the same Germanic bread-word family as modern Icelandic brauð, Danish brød, and German Brot.
How rusk is actually used
An established culinary noun, chiefly British and South African. In British usage it usually denotes a sweetened bread product, while it may refer to a dry, cracker-like bread in other varieties of English; it is much less common in American English.
Easily confused with rusk
A rusk is a crisp, dry piece of bread, whereas rust is a reddish-brown oxide that forms on iron or steel.