zest

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a flavouring or garnish.

   “The orange zest gives the strong flavor in this dish.”

2. (countable, uncountable)General vibrance of flavour.

   “I add zest to the meat by rubbing it with a spice mixture before grilling.”

   “He rolled his own cigarettes from a sack of Bull Durham, spilling flakes into his beer, which no doubt gained in zest thereby.”

   “Bashele’s dishes tasted as good as they had when I was a child. No one could give to the borscht such a sweet-and-sour zest as Bashele.”

3. (broadly, countable, uncountable)Enthusiasm; keen enjoyment; relish; gusto. A state of being zesty.

   “Auntie Mame had a real zest for life.”

   “1728, Edward Young, Love of Fame, the Universal Passion, Satire II in The Works of the Reverend Edward Young, London: P. Brown, H. Hill & S. Payne, 1765, Volume I, p. 85, Almighty vanity! to thee they owe Their zest of pleasure, and their balm of woe.”

   “1807, Thomas Cogan, An Ethical Treatise on the Passions, Bath: Hazard & Binns, Part 1, Disquisition 1, Chapter 1, Section 1 “On the utility of the Passions and Affections,” p. 51, Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest zest and relish to social intercourse.”

   “And never did Isabella relieve a suffering fellow-creature, or assist a beloved sister, without blessing the dear, distant one that had made her rich, and kissing her sweet boy with new zest, as the son of his father.”

   “Once started, Mrs. Bolton was better than any book, about the lives of the people. She knew them all so intimately, and had such a peculiar, flamey zest in all their affairs, it was wonderful, if just a trifle humiliating to listen to her.”

4. (countable, rare, uncountable)The woody, thick skin enclosing the kernel of a walnut.

   “The green zest of walnuts was used by the women to shine their teeth and it also gave a beautiful rust colour to their lips.”

5. (countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable)State of being a flamboyant or effeminate homosexual.

verb

1. To scrape the zest from a fruit.
2. To make more zesty.

   “Strains ſo artleſs tho’ we proffer, Hearts o’er flowing zest the offer.”