macaronic
/ˌmæk.əˈrɒn.ɪk/
adjective
Origin
Italian
maccherone — a type of pasta; often used to describe something coarse or messy
Overview
Meaning Now
- Designating a style of burlesque verse or literature in which vernacular words are mixed with Latin or Latinized endings.
- Characterized by the heterogeneous mixing of two or more languages.
Literal older meaning
resembling macaroni; likely implying a crude, jumbled, or mixed-up nature
Language path
Italian → Latin → English
Earliest form
macaronicus
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term was popularized by the Italian monk Teofilo Folengo, who wrote under the pseudonym Merlinus Coccaius. His 'Macaronea' (1517) utilized a literary style that combined Latin grammar with Italian vocabulary, often for satirical or comedic effect, mirroring the perceived 'coarseness' of macaroni pasta.
Evolution
- 16th century Italian
maccherone
“pasta; metaphorically applied to a coarse or crude mixture”
- 1517 Latin
macaronicus
“pertaining to a mixture of Latin and vernacular, as in the poems of Folengo”
- 16th century English
macaronic
“designating burlesque verse combining languages”
Connections
Word parts
macaron-
root
related to pasta (maccheroni)
-ic
suffix
pertaining to
Related across languages
Italian
maccheronico
macaronic
French
macaronique
macaronic
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Related to macaronic
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.