Marzipan is a paste made of almonds, sugar, and egg which is sometimes put on top of cakes.
marzipan in British English
(ˈmɑːzɪˌpæn)
noun
1.
a paste made from ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, used to coat fruit cakes or moulded into sweets
Also called (esp formerly): marchpane
modifier
2. informal
of or relating to the stratum of middle managers in a financial institution or other business
marzipan layer job losses
Word origin
C19: via German from Italian marzapane. See marchpane
marzipan in American English
(ˈmɑrzɪˌpæn; ˈmɑrtsɪpæn; ˈmɑrzɪpɑn; ˈmɑrtsɪˌpɑn)
noun
a confection of ground almonds, sugar, and egg white made into a paste and variously shaped and colored
Word origin
Ger < It marzapane, confection, earlier, the small box containing it, small dry measure, certain weight< ML matapanus, Venetian coin with figure of Christ on a throne < Ar mauthaban, seated king (< wathaba, to sit)