Other forms: delicacies
A delicacy is a rare fine food, or great tact and care. A local delicacy, handled with delicacy, a matter of some delicacy.
What counts as a delicacy is entirely local, which is why the word so often introduces something a visitor would rather not eat. The other sense is about handling — a subject of great delicacy needs care rather than caution. Note delicate beneath both.
1noundelicacyA rare fine food.
“In France, snails cooked in garlic butter are considered a delicacy.”
2noungreatGreat tact and care.
“She handled the quarrel between the two families with delicacy and patience.”
delicacy is a food, or a tact.
From delicate plus -acy, from Latin delicatus, giving pleasure or luxurious.
Middle English
delicacie
English, today
delicacy
From Middle English delicacie, from Middle English delicat, from Latin delicatus. Equivalent to delic(ate) + -acy.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in A Song of Ice and Fire