Meanings
- PennsylvaniaWesternuncountablechiefly Pittsburgh areaA finely ground, processed luncheon meat, typically made of spiced ham loaf shaved into thin chips; especially associated with delicatessens and home cooking in Western Pennsylvania.
Is there a Western Pennsylvanian who hasn’t eaten Isaly's chipped chopped ham? When you traveled and saw one, you knew they’d have Klondikes and chipped ham...
2021 November 21, McMarlin, Shirley, “Isaly's chipped ham, Klondikes celebrated in new historical book”, in TribLive1 more example
When I went looking for a chipped chopped ham barbecue sandwich last year as a new Pittsburgher, it was frustratingly hard to find. The classic Pittsburgh sandwich, made with thinly sliced pressed ham cooked in barbecue sauce, is available only at a few places with a long memory.
2025 November 17, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteSynonyms: chipped ham
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA finely ground, processed luncheon meat, typically made of spiced ham loaf shaved into thin chips; especially associated with delicatessens and home cooking in Western Pennsylvania.
Origin
From chipped (past participle of chip, referring to being thinly shaved) + chopped (“finely cut”) + ham. The term is strongly associated with the Pittsburgh region of Pennsylvania, where Isaly's delicatessens popularized the product in the mid-20th century.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
chipped chopped ham. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chipped%20chopped%20ham
“chipped chopped ham.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chipped%20chopped%20ham. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chipped chopped ham,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chipped%20chopped%20ham.
Source: chipped chopped ham on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.