leghorn
UK[lɛˈɡɔːn]US[ˈlɛɡhɔːrn]
n
A type of straw made from a specific variety of wheat, traditionally used for hats.
n
A hat made from this straw.
n
A breed of domestic fowl originating in Italy, noted for prolific egg-laying.
Etymology
The word 'leghorn' is an English corruption of 'Livorno', the Italian port city from which the straw-plaited hats were originally exported to Britain and America in the 18th century. The name was subsequently applied to a breed of chicken from the same region, which became famous for its hardiness and egg production. This process, where a place name becomes a common noun for a product associated with that place, is a classic example of metonymy in lexical development. The term illustrates how trade and cultural exchange fossilize geographical names into the general vocabulary.
Analysis
This word is a toponym, borrowed directly from the English name for the Italian port city of Livorno. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful English morphemes.
Examples
She wore a classic leghorn hat to the summer garden party.
The straw for weaving these baskets comes from leghorn.
The white leghorn is one of the most popular chicken breeds for commercial egg farming.