delicatessen

[ del-i-kuh-tes-uhn ]

noun

1. a store selling foods already prepared or requiring little preparation for serving, as cooked meats, cheese, salads, and the like.
2. Informal. the food products sold in such a store or at a counter:

   We're having delicatessen for dinner.

delicatessen

/ ˌdɛlɪkəˈtɛsən /

noun

1. a shop selling various foods, esp unusual or imported foods, already cooked or prepared
2. such foods

Word History and Origins

Origin of delicatessen¹

1885–90, Americanism; < German, plural of Delikatesse dainty < French délicatesse

Word History and Origins

Origin of delicatessen¹

C19: from German Delikatessen, literally: delicacies, pl of Delikatesse a delicacy, from French délicatesse

Example Sentences

They gave me this fantastic send-off, with a pop-up delicatessen on the set, called Sam’s Delicatessen.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after noon, customers continued to stream in and out of the delicatessen during the lunchtime rush.

From Los Angeles Times

They’ve recently embraced a unique kind of street style — one that’s emblazoned with logos of famous delicatessens and their most popular offerings, like knishes, pastrami, pickles and bagels.

From Salon

This isn’t the first time Sparrow has converted classic New York installations into felt: She previously tackled a 1980s bodega in “8 Till Late,” and a delicatessen with “Lucy’s on 6th.”

From Seattle Times

From the pale, shredded stuff in the supermarket delicatessen to my own favorite homemade version that combines cabbage, kale and chard in a vaguely Asian dressing, it all works for me.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cafeteria
• deli