paella

Where does the word "paella" come from? It comes from Latin patella, passing through Valencian/Spanish before entering English (1900s).

Paella’s story begins in Latin: patella meant “a small pan.” A small pan, a dish, a diminutive of patina (a shallow bowl). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Valencian/Spanish as paella. Settled as the name for the shallow pan, and the rice dish cooked in it. It reached English by 1900s as paella. Valencian 'pan', from Latin 'patella'; the dish is named after the wide pan. Today, paella means a traditional Spanish dish of saffron-flavored rice with meat, seafood, or vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient patella "a small pan", a small pan, a dish, a diminutive of patina (a shallow bowl).
2. Stage 2 · Valencian/Spanish · medieval paella "a shallow pan, and the rice dish cooked in it", settled as the name for the shallow pan, and the rice dish cooked in it.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s paella "a traditional Spanish rice dish", Valencian 'pan', from Latin 'patella'; the dish is named after the wide pan.