Definition of cereal

The word "cereal" originates from the Latin word "Ceres", which is the Roman goddess of agriculture and harvest. In the 16th century, the term "cereal" referred to crops, particularly grains such as wheat, oats, and barley. Later, in the 18th century, the term was expanded to include manufactured food products made from these grains, such as flour, bread, and biscuits. In the late 19th century, the term "cereal" was further broadened to encompass breakfast foods, specifically utilizing the word in the phrase "cereal breakfast". The Quaker Oats Company, who was one of the first manufacturers of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, popularized the term in their marketing efforts, making it a household name in the early 20th century. Today, the term "cereal" is widely recognized and used globally to describe a variety of breakfast and snack foods made from grains.