mozzarella
UK[ˌmɒtsəˈrelə]US[ˌmɑːtsəˈrelə]
n
A soft, white Italian cheese with a mild flavor, traditionally made from buffalo milk.
Etymology
The word 'mozzarella' entered English directly from Italian, preserving its original culinary reference. It originates from the Neapolitan dialect term 'mozza', a type of cheese, which itself derives from the verb 'mozzare', meaning 'to cut off'. This verb comes from Vulgar Latin 'mutius', related to Latin 'mutilus' meaning 'maimed' or 'cut short'. The name refers directly to the traditional cheesemaking process, where the curd is heated and then hand-pulled and pinched ('mozzata') to form individual balls. Thus, the term's journey from a Latin word for cutting to a specific Italian cheese name illustrates how a practical, descriptive term for a manufacturing technique became the standard name for the product itself.
Analysis
The word is a loanword from Italian. It is not productively segmented using English morphemes. Its Italian form is a diminutive derived from the Neapolitan dialect verb 'mozzare', meaning 'to cut off'.
Examples
The pizza was topped with fresh mozzarella and basil.
For the caprese salad, you need ripe tomatoes and high-quality mozzarella.
The recipe calls for draining the mozzarella before adding it to the pasta bake.