# Cecil

/ˈsisəɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cecil
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR B2

A traditional first name for men or women, or a family name.

For teachers: A unisex given name of Latin origin or a surname of Welsh origin.

- Cecil was a very popular name for boys in the early twentieth century.
- The historian noted that Cecil had transitioned from a common aristocratic surname to a popular given name during the Victorian era.

### 2. a meat dish

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

A small, fried ball made of chopped meat, breadcrumbs, and onions.

For teachers: A culinary preparation consisting of a fried ball or patty of minced meat, typically seasoned with onions and bound with breadcrumbs.

- The chef served a traditional cecil alongside the main vegetable dish.
- The recipe for a cecil requires finely minced beef and a specific ratio of breadcrumbs to ensure the ball maintains its shape during frying.

Usage: Usually functions as a countable noun in a culinary context.

## Examples

- She served cecil with hot tea.
- The recipe calls for crushed digestive biscuits to make the cecil.
- These delicate cecil, with their crumbly texture and rich buttery flavor, are a staple of afternoon tea service.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.