delicatessen

Etymology

1864. From German Delikatessen, plural of Delikatesse (“fine food”), from French délicatesse, from délicat (“fine”), from Latin delicatus (“alluring”).

The sense of store much more recent, originating in ellipsis from the common attributive use, as in delicatessen shop, delicatessen store, etc.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌdɛlɪkəˈtɛsən/

Noun

delicatessen (plural delicatessens)

1. A shop that sells cooked or prepared foods ready for serving.

Noun

delicatessen pl (plural only)

1. Delicacies; exotic or expensive foods.

Anagrams

• delicateness

Alternative forms

• delicatesse

Noun

delicatessen f (plural delicatessens)

1. delicatessen (shop selling prepared foods)

Etymology

Borrowed from English delicatessen, from German Delikatessen.

Noun

delicatessen f (plural delicatessens)

1. delicatessen

Further reading

• “delicatessen” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.