provolone
UK[ˌprɒvəˈləʊni]US[ˌproʊvəˈloʊni]
n
A firm, pale yellow Italian cheese with a mild, smoky flavor, often made in a large sausage shape.
Etymology
The word 'provolone' is a direct borrowing from Italian, where it is the augmentative form of 'provola', a type of buffalo milk cheese. 'Provola' itself likely derives from the Neapolitan 'prova' or 'provola', which may be connected to the method of 'provare' (to test) the cheese's readiness by pulling it. The '-one' suffix in Italian typically indicates a larger size, thus 'provolone' essentially means "large provola." The name reflects the cheese's traditional production in large, pear-shaped or sausage-shaped forms, with its journey into English preserving both its Italian spelling and its association with a specific culinary tradition.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Italian. It does not contain separable morphemes in its current English spelling.
Examples
The sandwich was generously layered with slices of provolone.
Provolone is often used in baked pasta dishes for its excellent melting qualities.
We sampled a variety of Italian cheeses, including a particularly flavorful smoked provolone.