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Meaning of Pontefract cake in English:

Pontefract cake

Pronunciation /ˈpɒntɪfrakt/

noun

British

  • A flat round liquorice sweet.

    ‘Another traditional British liquorice confection goes by the name of Pontefract cakes, or Yorkshire pennies, little shiny black liquorice sweets, about 2 cm in diameter, stamped with an impression of a castle and an owl.’
    • ‘The monks met a confectioner who started to produce the Pontefract cakes as sweets, which are still sold today.’
    • ‘Monkhill Confectionery in Pontefract, which produces the town's famous Pontefract cakes, employs around 500 staff.’
    • ‘Liquorice was cultivated by the monks at Pontefract in Yorkshire in the 16th Century and used in Pontefract cakes.’
    • ‘Not only were there glossy, pornographic pictures of Pontefract cakes and midget gems, there was also an online shop!’

Origin

Mid 19th century named after Pontefract (earlier Pomfret), a town in northern England where the sweets were first made.