pudding

Etymology

From circa 1305, Middle English podynge (“kind of sausage; meat-filled animal stomach”), puddynge, from Old French boudin (“blood sausage, black pudding”), from Latin botellus (“sausage, small intestine”). Doublet of boudin. * An alternative etymology assumes origin from Proto-Germanic *put-, *pud- (“to swell”) (compare dialectal English pod (“belly”), Old English puduc (“wen, sore”), Low German puddig (“swollen”), Westphalian Puddek (“lump, pudding”), Puddewurst (“black pudding”). More at pout.

noun

1. Any of various dishes, sweet or savoury, prepared by boiling or steaming, or from batter.
   The dishes in this chapter represent a range of multiethnic savory custards and steamed puddings, including a few surprises like a chèvre popover pudding and a bread pudding with lettuce and cheese. 2004, Victoria Wise, The Pressure Cooker Gourmet, page 313
   Steamed and boiled puddings have formed the basic diet of country people in northern Europe for centuries. Early puddings consisted of the scoured stomach of a sheep or pig, stuffed with its own suet and offal, which has been thickened with oatmeal, and boiled in water or baked in the ashes of a fire. 2004, Sarah Garland, The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices, page 199
2. A type of cake or dessert cooked usually by boiling or steaming.
   Steamed puddings, a favourite for winter, are both easy to make and delicious. Served with one of the sweet sauces (recipes 497 to 506) they make a filling and satisfying end to a meal. 2007, Magdaleen Van Wyk, The Complete South African Cookbook, page 265
3. A type of dessert that has a texture similar to custard or mousse but using some kind of starch as the thickening agent.
4. (UK, Australia, New Zealand) Dessert; the dessert course of a meal.
   We have apple pie for pudding today.
5. (originally) A sausage made primarily from blood.
6. (slang) An overweight person.
7. (endearing) A term of endearment.
   "How is my little pudding?" Jehan nuzzles up to me and rests his little head on my shoulder, still chuckling […] 2005, Ruzbeh N. Bharucha, Rest in Pieces, page 7
8. (slang) Entrails.
9. (obsolete) Any food or victuals.
   Eat your pudding, slave, and hold your tongue. 1718, Matthew Prior, Merry Andrew
10. (archaic, slang) A piece of good fortune.