CultureJuly 16, 2026

sweetbread

/ˈswiːt.bred/

Definition

A culinary term referring to the thymus or pancreas gland of a calf or lamb, served as a delicacy in fine dining.

Etymology

Originating from Old English, the term combines 'sweet'—referring to the gland's rich, delicate taste—and 'bread,' which was historically used to denote any piece of flesh or meat.

In the news

The article mentions sweetbread as part of a high-end, seasonal tasting menu at Palazzo Tiglio, highlighting the restaurant's commitment to gourmet, traditional Tuscan ingredients.

Chamber music returns to San Pancrazio

Read the full article ↗

The Florentine

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.