worcester

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Worcester sauce usually means the same thing as Worcestershire sauce, which is the fuller name on many labels. Brown sauce is thicker and sweeter, so British speakers often use it on fried breakfasts or sandwiches. Soy sauce is saltier and more directly savoury, which makes it better for stir-fries and dipping. Fish sauce is also strong and salty, but it has a much sharper fermented smell and is common in Southeast Asian cooking. For example, you might add Worcester sauce to beef stew or a tomato drink, but you would season fried rice with soy sauce and green papaya salad with fish sauce.

Common collocations

Etymology

This food word comes from Worcester, the English city linked with the sauce's early production. The fuller name Worcestershire sauce uses the county name, and Worcester later became a shorter form in recipes and on labels. The place name itself goes back to Old English, where ceaster came from Latin and meant a Roman fort or town.