sourdough

Definition of Sourdough in English :

1. sourdough

a leaven of dough in which fermentation is active; used by pioneers for making bread

2. sourdough

a settler or prospector (especially in western United States or northwest Canada and Alaska)

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Sourdough

adjective

1. dialect

(of bread) made with fermented dough used as a leaven

noun

2.

(in Western US, Canada, and Alaska) an old-time prospector or pioneer

noun

1. Dialectal

leaven

2.

a.

fermenting dough saved from one baking to be used for producing fermentation in a later one, thus avoiding the need for fresh yeast

b.

bread made with such dough

: in full sourdough bread

3.

a prospector or settler in the W U.S. or Canada, esp. one living alone

so called because their staple was sourdough bread

n.

1.

a. Sour fermented dough used as leaven in making bread.

b. Bread made from such a leaven.

2. An early settler or prospector, especially in Alaska and northwest Canada.