muffuletta
muffuletta Lexical Profile
muffuletta Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A large, round, somewhat flattened sandwich native to New Orleans, made with a split loaf of Sicilian sesame bread stuffed with layers of marinated olive salad, salami, ham, mortadella, and provolone cheese.
"For lunch in the French Quarter, we shared a massive muffuletta that was overflowing with tangy olive salad and cured meats."
The type of soft, round Sicilian sesame bread traditionally used to make a muffuletta sandwich.
"The baker pulled a tray of freshly baked muffulettas from the oven, their sesame-crusted tops glistening."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently spelled 'muffaletta'. While the term originally described only the bread, modern American usage almost exclusively refers to the sandwich as a whole.
• Rhymes for muffuletta
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Sicilian 'muffuletta', a diminutive form of 'muffula' (muff or sponge), originally referring to the soft, round sesame bread brought to New Orleans by Sicilian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.