corned beef
corned beef Lexical Profile
• noun
American A cut of beef, typically brisket, that has been cured in a seasoned brine and is usually slow-cooked or boiled before being served sliced.
"Every March, the local deli serves traditional platters of hot corned beef and cabbage."
British Minced, salted beef that has been cooked and pressed into a solid block, typically sold in a distinctive rectangular tin and eaten cold.
"She made a batch of hearty sandwiches using thickly sliced tomatoes and tinned corned beef."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, corned beef refers to a whole cut of cured brisket typically served hot and sliced, whereas in British English, it generally denotes finely minced, canned salt beef.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The term 'corned' originated in the 16th century from the Old English word 'corn' (meaning small, hard grain), referring to the large, coarse grains of rock salt originally used to cure and preserve the meat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.