Definition of the word waffle

The origin of the word "waffle" dates back to the 14th century. The term "wafel" or "waffel" was used in Middle English to describe a type of thin, crispy pancake or bread wafer. The word likely came from the Old Dutch word "wafel," which was derived from the Latin "vafus," meaning "to form or shape." In the 16th century, the term "waffe" or "waaffe" emerged in English, and it referred to a type of cooked, batter-based food that was cooked between two hot irons. Over time, the spelling and meaning of the word evolved, and by the 17th century, "waffle" was used to describe the breakfast food we know today: a crispy, grid-patterned cake made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk, usually cooked in a waffle iron.