prosciutto

American  

[proh-shoo-toh] / proʊˈʃu toʊ /

noun

1. salted ham that has been cured by drying, always sliced paper-thin for serving.

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prosciutto British  

/ prəʊˈʃuːtəʊ, proˈʃutto /

noun

1. cured ham from Italy: usually served as an hors d'oeuvre

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Etymology

Origin of prosciutto

1935–40; < Italian prosciutto, earlier presciutto < Vulgar Latin *perexsuctus all dried up, equivalent to Latin per- per- + exsuctus lacking juice

Explanation

Prosciutto is a type of sliced, cured meat that's used in various Italian dishes, from appetizers to pasta. These recipes include prosciutto for its salty, intensely flavorful taste. Prosciutto is made from pork. It's a version of ham that's sliced paper-thin after being dry-cured for a very long time, a process that involves salting the meat heavily. When you eat prosciutto, you're actually eating raw meat, since it's aged instead of cooked. The strong, salty flavor lends this Italian delicacy to antipasto plates and pizza toppings. We can trace the word prosciutto back to the Latin exsuctus, "lacking juice" or "dried up."

Example Sentences

So instead, I headed back toward where I started, walking past the high-end shops of Melrose Place before arriving at Zinque for a simple prosciutto and cornichon sandwich and an Arnold Palmer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

I order the Classic Italian with prosciutto, ham, salami and provolone.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2025

Some good options here are a classic caprese; prosciutto and gruyere; thin-sliced turkey with sundried tomato and pesto; or even chicken parm.

From Salon • Sep. 15, 2025

And meanwhile we have these sidebar conversations in, like, the lifestyle section about Clarence Thomas and the many, many, many people who feast on his prosciutto.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2024

He complains for the millionth time that there is no prosciutto anywhere in a fifty-mile radius, when of course there is no prosciutto in a fifty-mile radius.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti