deli
DEH-lee
/ˈdɛli/
A store or a department in a supermarket that sells cooked meats, cheeses, and prepared salads.
Short for 'delicatessen'. It implies high-quality, often imported or specialty foods.
The story behind the word. Short for 'delicatessen', which comes from the German 'Delikatessen', meaning 'delicious things to eat'. The Germans borrowed it from the French 'délicat'. It originally referred to a shop selling exotic or high-quality prepared foods.
Word relationships
- delicatessen: The full, more formal name for a deli.
Commonly confused with
- bakery: A 'bakery' sells bread and cakes; a 'deli' sells meats, cheeses, and salads.
Word family
- delis (noun): Plural form of deli.
Collocations
- deli counter
- deli meat
- local deli
Example sentences
- "I'll go to the deli to get some sliced ham and Swiss cheese." Shopping
- "The local deli makes the best pastrami sandwiches in the city." Dining
Memory hook
A deli sells 'delicious' things. Deli: Delicious eats, lovely ingredients.
When not to use
Do not use for a standard butcher shop that only sells raw meat.
Fun facts
- The first delis in the United States were opened by German immigrants in New York City in the mid-19th century.
- In many European countries, a deli is called a 'charcuterie'.
Related words
Explore more words
delicacy, gourmet, food court, delectable, connoisseur, degustation
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