minestrone

Where does the word "minestrone" come from? It comes from Italian minestra, passing through Italian before entering English (1870s).

Minestrone’s story begins in Italian: minestra meant “a soup.” A soup, from minestrare (to serve, dish out). Within Italian, it grew into minestrone by 1800s. Settled as the name for the hearty, thick vegetable soup. It reached English by 1870s as minestrone. Italian 'big soup', from 'minestrare', to serve. Today, minestrone means a thick Italian soup made with vegetables, beans, and pasta.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval minestra "a soup", a soup, from minestrare (to serve, dish out).
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1800s minestrone "a thick vegetable soup", settled as the name for the hearty, thick vegetable soup.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1870s minestrone "a thick Italian vegetable soup", Italian 'big soup', from 'minestrare', to serve.