cordon bleu

[ French kawr-dawn blœ ]
/ French kɔr dɔ̃ ˈblœ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cordon bleu ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural cor·dons bleus [French kawr-dawn blœ] /French kɔr dɔ̃ ˈblœ/.

the sky-blue ribbon worn as a badge by knights of the highest order of French knighthood under the Bourbons.
some similar high distinction.
one entitled to wear the cordon bleu.
any person of great distinction in a specific field, especially a distinguished chef.

adjective

(of a dish made with thin slices of veal, chicken, etc.) interlaid or stuffed with ham and cheese and then sautéed: chicken cordon bleu.

Origin of cordon bleu

1720–30; < French: literally, blue ribbon

Words nearby cordon bleu

cordless, cordless telephone, cordo-, cordoba, cordon, cordon bleu, cordon sanitaire, cordonbleu, cordonnet, cordopexy, cordotomy

Example sentences from the Web for cordon bleu

  • The mistress of the hotel cooked for us herself, and she was quite a cordon-bleu, I assure you.

    Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 15, August, 1851 |Various

  • Her vanity as a cordon-bleu was piqued because she did not receive the compliments she expected, and which she felt she deserved.

    Baron Trigault's Vengeance |Emile Gaboriau

  • The germs of this unbelief had been sown in the doctor's mind by his own cordon-bleu, Sophie.

    An Englishman in Paris |Albert D. (Albert Dresden) Vandam

  • In making herself a cordon-bleu she was thinking of Jean-Jacques's comfort; though she was, it must be owned, tolerably dainty.

    The Two Brothers |Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for cordon bleu

cordon bleu
/ (French kɔrdɔ̃ blø) /

noun

French history
  1. the sky-blue ribbon worn by members of the highest order of knighthood under the Bourbon monarchy
  2. a knight entitled to wear the cordon bleu
any very high distinction

adjective

of or denoting food prepared to a very high standard

Word Origin for cordon bleu

French, literally: blue ribbon