Words at Play : English Words from Yiddish
Definition:
: a firm doughnut-shaped roll traditionally made by boiling and then baking
About the Word:
The bagel, both the humblest and mightiest of all bread forms, is, unsurprisingly, of Yiddish origins. The word that names it comes from that language's word beygl. It is widely speculated (at least by those who do such speculation) that the Yiddish word is descended from the Middle High German word böugel, which is from another German word for ring or bracelet.
Example:
"Among the most frequently heard complaints of New Yorkers who visit Israel is that 'you can't get a good bagel in Tel Aviv.'" — Ray Jones, Great American Stuff: A Celebration of People, Places, and Products that Make Us Happy to Live in America, 1997.
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