pumpernickel

From Westphalian German Pumpernickel, from Pumper (“fart”) (or a related form, such as pumpern) and Nickel (“rascal”) (from the male name Nikolaus (“Nicholas”)), possibly originating as an insult for a person or for the bread itself by outsiders. A false folk etymology claims that this comes from the phrase pain pour Nicole ("bread for Nicole"), referring to Napoleon disliking the taste so much that he thought it was fit for his horse Nicole.^[1]

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpʌmpɚˌnɪkl̩/

pumpernickel (countable and uncountable, plural pumpernickels)

1. A German sourdough bread made from rye.

   Synonym: pumpernickel bread

   • 2016, Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad, Fleet (2017), page 309:

     There was a cut-crystal pitcher full of water, a basket of fruit, and a big loaf of pumpernickel for them to eat.