ravioli

Where does the word "ravioli" come from? It comes from Italian ravioli, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Ravioli’s story begins in Italian: ravioli meant “small stuffed pasta pockets.” Small stuffed pasta pockets, possibly from riavvolgere (to wrap up). It reached English by 1800s as ravioli. Italian, possibly from 'rava', turnip, an early filling; recorded in the 1300s letters of the Prato merchant Francesco Datini. Today, ravioli means small pasta pockets filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval ravioli "small stuffed pasta pockets", small stuffed pasta pockets, possibly from riavvolgere (to wrap up).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s ravioli "small stuffed pasta pockets", Italian, possibly from 'rava', turnip, an early filling; recorded in the 1300s letters of the Prato merchant Francesco Datini.