scamorza

[prettygoodword]

scamorza or scamorze or scamorzo (ska-MOHR-tsah) - n., a firm, slightly salty, white Italian cheese.


Usually made from cow's milk (originally, buffalo) and formed into a round shape, and then tied up to dry, so that it ends up pear-shaped. Etymology is disputed, but one theory is an alteration of capa mozza, severed head.

---L.

Comments

[movingfinger]

The "s" prefix in Italian has long intrigued me. It is not always the truncation of "des" (in negation). It turns up as a vestige of an even older form in some old spellings (sforza, sviluppare). Someday I'll read up on that...