pizza
/ˈpɪtsə/
noun
Origin
Italian
pizza — pie or flatbread
Overview
Meaning Now
- A dish of Italian origin consisting of a flat, round base of dough baked with a topping of tomato sauce, cheese, and various other ingredients.
Language path
Latin → Italian → English
Earliest form
picea
Earliest period
10th century
Journey
While flatbreads with toppings were common in the ancient Mediterranean, the modern pizza evolved in Naples. It gained international popularity following the unification of Italy, notably linked to the story of the Margherita pizza created in 1889 to honor Queen Margherita of Savoy.
Evolution
- 10th century Latin
picea
“flatbread”
- 16th century Neapolitan
pizza
“a flatbread or pie”
- 19th century Italian
pizza
“modern dish with tomato and toppings”
Connections
Related across languages
German
pizza
Explore next
Related to pizza
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.