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Vermicelli

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means long, thin strands of pasta, thinner than spaghetti

Where does the word "vermicelli" come from? It comes from Latin vermis, passing through Italian before entering English (1660s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
vermis
Latin · ancient
"worm"
the plain word for a worm
2
Stage 2 of 3
vermicello
Italian · medieval
"little worm; thin pasta strands"
a diminutive, 'little worm', naming pasta cut into thin strands
3
Stage 3 of 3
vermicelli
English · 1660s
"long, thin strands of pasta"
borrowed (as the Italian plural) for the thin, worm-like pasta
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