pep·per·o·ni 
(pĕp′ə-rōnē)
(pĕp′ə-rōnē)n. pl. pep·per·o·nis
1. A highly spiced pork and beef sausage.
2. A slice of this type of sausage.
[Italian peperoni, pl. of peperone, pimento, red pepper, augmentative of pepe, pepper, from Latin piper; see PEPPER.]