Dictionary of Terms Derived from Proper Names
A Comprehensive List
This document provides definitions for terms that originate from proper names. Each entry includes the term, its definition, and sometimes additional context.
| Nankeen |
|
| Nantua Sauce | A cream sauce flavored with shellfish. |
| Nashville | Refers to: The country music industry. |
| Neanderthal | Crude or boorish. |
| New England Clam Chowder | A thick soup made with clams, onions, salt pork, potatoes, and milk. |
| Norfolk Jacket | A belted jacket with two box pleats in front and back. |
| Nova | Cured and smoked salmon, especially salmon that has been cured in a mixture of salt and sugar and smoked at a low temperature. |
| Opuntia | Any of various cacti. |
| Organza | A sheer, stiff fabric. |
| Orvieto | A usually dry Italian white wine. |
| Panama Red | Marijuana of Panamanian origin that is slightly red and very potent. |
| Parmesan | A hard, sharp, dry Italian cheese. |
| Persian Cat | A type of domestic cat. |
| Pilsner & Pilsener | A light, golden lager beer. |
| Piker | A cautious gambler. |
| Port | A rich, sweet, fortified wine. |
| Pomeranian | A breed of small dogs. |
| Quiche Lorraine | A quiche containing cheese and bacon bits. |
| Rialto |
|
| Rioja | A wine, especially a dry red wine from this region. |
| Rugby | A form of football. |
| Russian Blue | Any of a breed of domestic cats with bluish-gray fur. |
| Samaritan | A person who selflessly helps others. |
| Satsuma |
|
| Seltzer | A natural effervescent spring water of high mineral content. |
| Shasta Daisy | A hybrid daisy, having large white daisy-like flower heads. |
| Solomon | A wise king. |
| Springfield | A type of rifle. |
| Suede | Leather with a soft napped surface. |
| Swiss Cheese | A hard cheese characterized by its elastic texture. |
| Tabasco | A trademark used for a very spicy sauce made from a strong-flavored red pepper. |
| Tequila | An alcoholic drink distilled from the fermented juice of the central American century plant, Agave tequilana. |
| Tokay | A variety of grape. |
| Ulster | A loose, long overcoat made of heavy, rugged fabric and often belted. |
| Valencia Orange | A sweet orange having few seeds and a thin skin. |
| Valpolicella | A dry, red Italian table wine. |
| Vichy Water | A sparkling mineral water. |
| Vienna Sausage | A small sausage; a frankfurter. |
| Virginia Ham | A lean hickory-smoked ham with dark red meat. |
| Waldorf Salad | A salad of diced raw apples, celery, and walnuts mixed with mayonnaise. |
| Watergate | A political scandal. |
| Welsh Corgi | A breed of small dog. |
| Wensleydale | A mild, white, friable cheese of English origin. |
| Whitehall | The British Civil Service. |
| White House | The executive branch of the U.S. government. |
| Wiener | A type of sausage. |
| Windsor Chair | A wooden chair having a high, spoked back, outward-slanting legs connected by a crossbar, and a saddle seat. |
| Xanadu | An idyllic, beautiful place. |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Any of a breed of small dog. |
| Zarzuela | A usually comic Spanish operetta. |