panini

Where does the word "panini" come from? It comes from Latin panis, passing through Italian before entering English (1970s).

Panini’s story begins in Latin: panis meant “bread.” The root of 'pantry', 'companion' and 'company'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as panino. A small bread roll, diminutive of pane (bread). It reached English by 1970s as panini. English uses the Italian plural as a singular; Italians say 'panino' for one. Today, panini means a pressed, grilled sandwich made on Italian bread.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient panis "bread", the root of 'pantry', 'companion' and 'company'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval panino "a small bread roll", a small bread roll, diminutive of pane (bread).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1970s panini "a pressed, grilled sandwich", English uses the Italian plural as a singular; Italians say 'panino' for one.