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noun Uncommon

Gibraltar

jih-BRAWL-tuh

Gibraltar (noun) means a small coffee drink made by serving a cortado-style espresso and milk in a short glass. Example: “The barista handed over a gibraltar, the espresso and milk already swirled together.”

noun
1
A small coffee drink made by serving a cortado-style espresso and milk in a short glass.
"The barista handed over a gibraltar, the espresso and milk already swirled together."
"Coffee shops on the West Coast popularized the gibraltar before it spread nationwide."

How to use Gibraltar

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA style of espresso drink, basically a cortado served in a particular small glass.

Common mistake

Lower-cased in this drink sense; capitalized only when referring to the actual place, the British territory on the Iberian Peninsula.

Common pairings
order a gibraltar a gibraltar glass

Word forms

Gibraltars plural

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The barista handed over a _____, the espresso and milk already swirled together.

Etymology

Named after the small glass tumbler the drink is served in, which some baristas nicknamed after the Rock of Gibraltar; the territory itself takes its name from Arabic "Jabal Tariq", meaning "Mount Tariq".

Origin: Arabic

Calpe

Rhymes for Gibraltar

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Gibraltar” mean?

The word “Gibraltar” means a small coffee drink made by serving a cortado-style espresso and milk in a short glass. In plain terms, a style of espresso drink, basically a cortado served in a particular small glass.

How do you pronounce “Gibraltar”?

“Gibraltar” is pronounced jih-BRAWL-tuh (/d͡ʒɪˈbɹɔːltə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “Gibraltar” in a sentence?

Here is “Gibraltar” used in a sentence: “The barista handed over a gibraltar, the espresso and milk already swirled together.”

What part of speech is “Gibraltar”?

“Gibraltar” is a noun.

Where does the word “Gibraltar” come from?

The word “Gibraltar” comes from Arabic. Named after the small glass tumbler the drink is served in, which some baristas nicknamed after the Rock of Gibraltar; the territory itself takes its name from Arabic "Jabal Tariq", meaning "Mount Tariq".

Is “Gibraltar” a common word?

“Gibraltar” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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