Which 1809 book by Washington Irving contains one of the earliest printed uses of the word “doughnut”?

Washington Irving’s 1809 book A History of New-York contains one of the earliest notable printed uses of the word “doughnut.”

Irving published the book under the fictional name Diedrich Knickerbocker. It is a satirical history of New York, mixing invented events and comic commentary rather than presenting conventional factual history.

The passage describes Dutch settlers enjoying “doughnuts,” along with other foods, during a supposedly early New York celebration. This reference is important because it shows the term in established English use by the early nineteenth century.

The word’s spelling was not completely standardized at the time. “Doughnut” and the shorter “donut” later became common alternatives, with “donut” especially associated with American commercial usage. Irving did not invent the pastry or necessarily coin the word; his book is simply an early, widely cited printed source.