mortadella

American

[mawr-tuh-del-uh] / ˌmɔr təˈdɛl ə /

noun

a large Italian sausage of pork, beef, and pork fat chopped fine, seasoned with garlic and pepper, cooked, and smoked.

Etymology

Origin of mortadella

1605–15; < Italian < Latin murtāt ( um ) sausage seasoned with myrtle ( murt ( um ) myrtle-berry + -ātum, neuter of -ātus -ate ¹ ) + -ella diminutive suffix

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.

But I ditched the traditional ham you would typically use and opted for my favorite, mortadella.

From Salon • May 28, 2024

Sandwiches, including its popular mortadella, are assembled on housemade focaccia.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2023

Favorite grinder meats in our house include sopresetta, ham, prosciutto, mortadella and various types of salami.

From Washington Times • Sep. 21, 2023

The Cold Cuts Grinder is served on a French roll with mortadella, salami, capicola, provolone, sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and hot giardiniera.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2022

Only one lovely place: raw ham, boiled ham, chickens in aspic, chicken vol-au-vents, sweet curds, curd-cheese, rustic cheese-cake, smoked sausages, beautiful fresh mortadella, huge Mediterranean red lobsters, and those lobsters without claws.

From Sea and Sardinia by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023