gravy

Definition

A thick sauce made from the fat or juices that come out from meat or vegetables as they are being cooked.

Etymology

From Middle English gravey, greavie, gravy; probably from greaves, graves (“the sediment of melted tallow”), or from Old French grave, a claimed misspelling of grané (“stew, spice”), from grain (“spice”). Sense of "pasta sauce" apparently seems to be from Italian dialect, especially Calabrian, differentiating tomato puree (salsa (“sauce”)) from cooked tomato sauce (sugo).

Example Sentences

• "A roast dinner isn't complete without gravy."
• "There are few foods more Southern than biscuits and gravy."
• "With this the hostess poured two or three spoonfuls of the gravy of the curry on to the rice opposite to each person."