Mousse is derived from the French word mousse which means "lather" or "foam". A mousse is a prepared food that incorporates air bubbles to give it a light and airy texture. It can range from light and fluffy to creamy and thick, depending on preparation techniques. Mousse may come in variations such as Chiffon where meringue is used to give aeration to the mousse or bavarois which is a mousse with custard as a base.