charcuterie

Where does the word "charcuterie" come from? It comes from French chair cuite, passing through French before entering English (1850s).

Charcuterie’s story begins in French: chair cuite meant “cooked flesh.” 'cooked flesh', from 'chair', flesh, and 'cuite', cooked. Within French, it grew into charcuterie by 1500s. Paris had its own guild of 'charcutiers', sellers of cooked pork, separate from the butchers, by the late 1400s. It reached English by 1850s as charcuterie. Borrowed for French delicatessens; 'charcuterie board' dates from the 2010s. Today, charcuterie means cooked and cured meats such as sausage, pâté and ham.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval chair cuite "cooked flesh", 'cooked flesh', from 'chair', flesh, and 'cuite', cooked.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s charcuterie "pork-butchery", Paris had its own guild of 'charcutiers', sellers of cooked pork, separate from the butchers, by the late 1400s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1850s charcuterie "cured meats", borrowed for French delicatessens; 'charcuterie board' dates from the 2010s.