/ben yay"/ ; Fr. /be nye"/ , n. , pl. beignets /ben yayz"/ ; Fr. /be nye"/ .
1. a fritter or doughnut.
2. French Cookery. any fruit, vegetable, seafood, etc., dipped in batter and deep-fried.
[ 1830-35, Amer.; bignet pastry filled with fruit or meat, equiv. to buyne lit., bruise, lump from a blow (of uncert. orig.; cf. BUNION) + -et -ET ]