cold cut

noun

1. Usually cold cuts. slices of unheated salami, bologna, ham, liverwurst, turkey, or other meats and sometimes cheeses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold cut¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

Jack woke up facedown in a snowdrift, and for a second—before the cold cut through his shock—he wondered exactly how many times he was going to be knocked out during this quest.

From Literature

This would mean any sort of cured or preserved meat, cold cut, salumi, charcuterie meats or other similar items.

From Salon

Instead of traditional ham and turkey, explore the ever-growing number of vegan and vegetarian cold cut options out there.

From Washington Times

In 2022, The New Yorker's Jacob Sweet wrote that there was something so transfixing about watching his go-to order of Subway's Cold Cut Combo be made close up:

From Salon

"And, although I had requested each ingredient and watched someone assemble them, step by step, I had never experienced the construction from the other side of the glass. When I saw Mirghahari's videos, I was transfixed. Sure, it's epistemologically interesting to watch the show 'How It's Made' explain the origins of a stretch limousine, but I probably will never ride in one. The highly processed and objectively mediocre Cold Cut Combo conjures up my happiest childhood memories."

From Salon