Meaning & origin

Double-double

  • 1 source
  • 1 alternate wording
  • 2 usage examples
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Meaning

A coffee prepared with two servings of cream and two of sugar. Current informal food-and-drink term Regional use: Canada.

Origin

A Canadian coffee order associated with Tim Hortons and recorded in print by 1985. DCHP treats it as a Canadian coinage tied to the chain, though examples show that the wording also functions as a general coffee order. Its strong cultural association developed as Tim Hortons expanded around the country; triple-triple and 4x4 are related orders, not exact variants.

Research Sources

References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.

  1. DCHP-3: double-double

Variants

  • double double

Usage Examples

  • Nora ordered a double-double while I asked for tea.
  • The new cafe learned quickly that commuters expected a proper double double.

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