focaccia

Where does the word "focaccia" come from? It comes from Latin focus, passing through Italian before entering English (1900s).

Focaccia’s story begins in Latin: focus meant “a hearth.” A hearth, since the flatbread was traditionally baked on the hearth. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as focaccia. Settled in Italian for the flat, oven-baked bread. It reached English by 1900s as focaccia. From Latin 'panis focacius', bread baked on the hearth, 'focus'. Today, focaccia means a flat Italian bread, typically seasoned with olive oil and herbs.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient focus "a hearth", a hearth, since the flatbread was traditionally baked on the hearth.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval focaccia "a flat, oven-baked bread", settled in Italian for the flat, oven-baked bread.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s focaccia "a flat Italian bread, often seasoned with herbs and oil", from Latin 'panis focacius', bread baked on the hearth, 'focus'.