the word 'tenderloin' is a transparent compound formed from two english words of french origin. 'tender' derives from the latin tener, meaning soft or delicate, which passed into old french. 'loin' originates from the latin lumbus, via old french, referring specifically to the lower back region. when combined, the term literally denotes the 'soft part of the loin,' accurately describing the texture and location of this prized cut of meat. its application to a corrupt urban district, notably in 19th-century new york, is metaphoric, suggesting an area so profitable for police graft that it allowed officers to afford better cuts of meat like tenderloin.

Structure: tender + loin tender (middle english, from old french tendre, meaning soft or delicate) + loin (middle english, from old french loigne, meaning the part of the body on either side of the backbone between the ribs and the hipbone).