Etymology Map
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Pastiche

3 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a work imitating the style of another artist or period

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
pasticcio
Italian · 1500s
"pie, medley"
a pie or medley, from Latin 'pasta', dough
2
Stage 2 of 3
pastiche
French · 1700s
"imitative work"
a painting or opera made up of borrowings
3
Stage 3 of 3
pastiche
English · 1870s
"imitative work"
used for art and writing that imitates another style
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Read the full story

Pastiche’s story begins in Italian: pasticcio meant “pie, medley.” A pie or medley, from Latin 'pasta', dough. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as pastiche. A painting or opera made up of borrowings. It reached English by 1870s as pastiche. Used for art and writing that imitates another style. Today, pastiche means a work imitating the style of another artist or period.