liverwurst
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of liverwurst
1865–70, half translation, half adoption of German Leberwurst
Explanation
Liverwurst is a savory spread or sliceable sausage made of meat and spices. Your grandpa's favorite sandwich might be liverwurst and onion on white bread, while you prefer peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat. It's common for liverwurst to be a pâté-like paste that you spread on crackers or bread, but this meaty treat is actually a kind of sausage. Made from the livers of pigs or calves, liverwurst is much more popular in European countries than the U.S. You might have guessed this from its German-sounding name, a partial translation of Leberwurst, "liver sausage." In fact, Germans are especially enthusiastic about liverwurst and claim many distinct variations on the basic recipe.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As a result of the multistate outbreak, which sickened dozens of people and was linked to 10 deaths, Boar’s Head permanently discontinued its liverwurst product and shut down its Jarratt, Va., facility.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024
The CDC has not been able to identify what specific meat is responsible for the outbreak, although most individuals who were sickened in the outbreak said they ate turkey, liverwurst or ham.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2024
Day opened a pack of smelly liverwurst and covered her hands in it.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023
Rebrand liverwurst as pâté, however, and suddenly many more people's yummy detectors light up.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2022
After the bone was wrapped and paid for, he sliced off a thick piece of liverwurst and gave it to her.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
