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

Mintz owned several kosher delicatessens in New York and had a flourishing catering business, but his observance of Jewish dietary laws would not allow him to include dairy and meat in the same dish.

From Washington Post

In four years, the rest of the family joined them, and it was arranged for the parents to run a delicatessen.

From Washington Post

The Mill Valley Market has grown and offers a deluxe delicatessen.

From The Daily Beast

They had a delicatessen first in Brooklyn, then in Queens, and they entered the country legally through Ellis Island.

From The Daily Beast

The patronage of the bakery and the delicatessen shop should also be mentioned, and the waste of money involved.

From Project Gutenberg

From a delicatessen store procure dill pickles and a nice Edam cheese.

From Project Gutenberg

After several blocks the window of a delicatessen store showed him she was more composed, and he again offered her his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, theres just father and Lonny and France and I, and mostly father brings home things from the delicatessen.

From Project Gutenberg

In the distance behind him was a milk wagon, a few pedestrians, a little thinly clad girl coming out of a delicatessen store.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cafeteria
• deli