lebkuchen

Borrowed from German Lebkuchen, from Middle High German lebekuoche. The origin of the first component is uncertain: it might come from Latin libum (“flat bread”) or Germanic Laib, loaf, or Leb-Honig, crystallized honey often used in baking.

lebkuchen (plural lebkuchen or lebkuchens)

1. A traditional German Christmas biscuit form of gingerbread.
   • 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty, New York: Bloomsbury, →OCLC:

     The kettle was coming to the boil, and the tray was ready with two teacups and the little sweet lebkuchen that Rachel liked.