muffuletta

American  

[muhf-uh-let-uh] / ˌmʌf əˈlɛt ə /

Or muffaletta

noun

1. a thick, round sandwich similar to a hero, typically containing ham, salami, and cheeses and topped with an olive salad, a specialty of New Orleans.

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Etymology

Origin of muffuletta

First recorded in 1965–70; from Sicilian dialect, from Italian muffoletta “a round hollow-centered loaf of bread,” derivative of muffola “mitten,” from French moufle; muff ( def. ), muffle ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Of Sicilian origin, muffuletta is actually the name of the Italian bread that holds the virtual charcuterie board of ingredients that make up this massive sandwich together.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2023

In addition to pizzas, there are muffuletta and po’boy sandwiches, fried oysters and mussels for appetizers, mac-and-cheese, duck-fat potatoes with wine-poached prunes, seasonal salads and house-made ice cream.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 9, 2022

And with the exception of a muffuletta that briefly manifested a few months back, every sandwich at Foxface is filled with hot, cooked meat or seafood or vegetables.

From New York Times • Aug. 20, 2019

The muffuletta, made with prosciutto, capicola, shaved Parmesan, and olive salad, could easily be mistaken for an extra-spicy Italian combo.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 29, 2018

Alfano’s unconventional muffuletta tastes as if it hopped a freight train to Texas and sought shelter in a barbecue pit.

From Washington Post