puttanesca

adjective

put·​ta·​nes·​ca ˌpü-tä-ˈne-skä How to pronounce puttanesca (audio)
: served with or being a pungent tomato sauce typically containing olives, garlic, capers, hot pepper, and sometimes anchovies
usually used postpositively
pasta puttanesca

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, short for alla puttanesca, literally, in the style of a puttana "woman who engages in sex acts in exchange for pay"

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puttanesca was in 1969

Dictionary Entries Near puttanesca

Cite this Entry

“Puttanesca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puttanesca. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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