Edam
/ˈeɪ.dæm/noun
A mild, semi-hard Dutch cheese traditionally sold in a red wax coating.
Did you know?Edam is named after the town of Edam in the Netherlands, and its famous red wax coating helped it travel and store well, turning a local cheese into a globally recognized brand of place-name power.
Etymological Timeline
14th Century
Dutch
Edam
“The town of Edam in North Holland, a market and harbor settlement”
16th Century
Dutch
Edammer kaas
“Cheese from Edam, named for its place of origin”
16th-17th Century
English
Edam
“Dutch cheese imported from the town of Edam”
Modern English
English
Edam
“A semi-hard, mild cheese often coated in red wax”