Prosciutto

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pɹəˈʃuː.toʊ/

Definitions

1. A delicately cured and sliced ham that originates from Italy, characterized by its rich flavor and often enjoyed with cheese or fresh fruits while typically served uncooked
2. This Italian specialty is made from pork hind leg, undergoing a meticulous curing process, which gives it a unique taste and an invitingly thin texture when sliced
3. A type of Italian dry-cured ham that is thinly sliced and typically served uncooked, featuring a savory flavor that pairs well with various accompaniments like bread and fruit

Etymology: The Italian word "prosciutto" is built from a dried-out idea: its root "asciutto" means "dry," and the ham is named for the drying that makes it. Italian speakers came to call cured ham by this name by way of a process of preservation rather than a description of the animal or its cut. The word's own pedigree is debated. One account has it formed from "asciutto" with a change of prefix, swapping in "pro-" for an earlier prefix. Another traces it to a Vulgar Latin "perexsūctus," built from "per" (through, thoroughly) and the Latin "exsūctus," meaning thoroughly dried out. Both routes lead to the same sense of thorough drying, so the ham's name points straight at the method that made it. English borrowed the word directly from Italian, so it still carries that sense of dryness. The ham itself is salted and air-dried for months, which is why the name fits so closely.