delicatessen
UK[ˌdelɪkəˈtesn]US[ˌdelɪkəˈtesn]
n
A shop that sells high-quality, unusual, or foreign prepared foods, such as cooked meats, cheeses, and salads.
n
The foods sold in such a shop.
Etymology
The word 'delicatessen' entered English in the late 19th century from the German 'Delikatessen', the plural of 'Delikatesse', meaning "delicacy" or "fine food." The German term itself was borrowed from the French 'délicatesse', which derives from the Latin 'delicatus', meaning "giving pleasure, delightful, or fastidious." The Latin root is thought to be related to 'deliciae' (delight, pleasure) and 'delicere' (to allure). The English word initially referred to the prepared foods themselves but quickly came to denote the specialized shops selling them, a meaning reinforced by the influence of Yiddish 'delikatessen' in American English, particularly in the context of Jewish appetizing stores.
Analysis
The entire word is a loanword from German, where it is a compound. However, in English spelling and usage, it is treated as an unsegmentable simplex noun. Its components in the original German are 'delikat' (delicate, fine) and 'Essen' (food).
Examples
I bought some smoked salmon and olives from the local delicatessen.
The aroma of fresh bread and spices filled the air in the bustling delicatessen.
Their party platter was ordered from a famous German delicatessen downtown.