tenderloin
noun
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A tenderloin, of course, is a juicy and tasty cut of meat. In the late 19th century, however, Tenderloin saw use as a nickname for the neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, west of Broadway and below 42nd Street. This district, which contained numerous bordellos, gambling houses, and watering holes, alongside theaters and hotels, became a hotbed of corruption - and, it was alleged by some, blackmail by police. The notion of dishonest law enforcers being able to afford a nice meal off activity in this district is believed to have given the Tenderloin its name. Soon the term was applied to similarly seedy districts in other cities.
Examples of tenderloin in a Sentence
Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
Massimo gets beef tenderloin and elderberries; Shuai, short ribs and black currants; Bailey, beef cheek and Saskatoon berry; Lana, New York striploin and haskap berry; César, rib eye and chokeberry; and Tristen, flat iron and gooseberry.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Our Test Kitchen is keen on two different ways of roasting beef tenderloin: hot and quick or low and slow.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
Since this beef tenderloin recipe is so simple, the meat plays a starring role.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tenderloin
Cite this Entry
“Tenderloin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenderloin. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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tenderloin
noun
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