Spekulatius

Spekulatius (plural Spekulatius)

1. Speculoos; in particular, the variety made and eaten in German cuisine as contrasted with Belgian speculoos and Dutch speculaas.

Unknown. Various theories have been proposed:

• Latinized form of Low German (especially East Frisian) Spikelātsje, Spekelātsje and Rhinelandic Spekulaties (19th c.), from Dutch speculatie meaning "plastically formed goodies" and later referred to "figured biscuits". One possible explanation for the Latinization of the Low German and Rhinelandic forms is that they were believed to be derived from Latin speculum (“mirror, image”), so that Latinization of these forms could take place.^[1]
• From Dutch spekulatie (“biscuits (as table decoration)”), from Middle Dutch speculatie (“watching, later also meaning consideration, pleasure, fantasy”), from Latin speculatio (“watching, spying”). From this etymology, the meaning refers to a "biscuit for gourmets" or a "fantasy biscuit for pleasure/table decoration".^[1]
• From Latin speculator (“spy, scout”), which gave rise to the word Speculator, which was the byname of Saint Nicholas. The reference to spying, scouting is comparable to Saint Nicholas' act of looking into the windows of poor families to help them out.^[2]

• IPA^(key): /ʃpekuˈlaːt͡si̯ʊs/

• Audio:

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Spekulatius m (strong, genitive Spekulatius, plural Spekulatius)

1. speculoos

• Butterspekulatius
• Gewürzspekulatius

• Spekulatius on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de