linguini
UK[lɪŋˈɡwiːni]US[lɪŋˈɡwiːni]
n
A type of pasta in the form of long, thin, flat strands.
Etymology
The word 'linguini' is a direct borrowing from Italian, where it is the plural form of 'linguina', a diminutive of 'lingua', meaning "tongue". This etymology is a clear example of a shape-based metaphor, where the long, flat, and narrow form of the pasta is likened to a small tongue. The Italian 'lingua' itself descends from the Latin 'lingua', which carried the same primary meaning. The Latin term can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s, meaning "tongue" or "language", demonstrating a deep historical connection between the physical organ and the faculty of speech, a connection preserved in the English word "language" as well.
Analysis
The word is a direct Italian loanword. It is the plural diminutive form of the Italian word 'lingua', meaning "tongue".
Examples
The chef tossed the fresh linguini with pesto and cherry tomatoes.
For this seafood dish, linguini is a more traditional choice than spaghetti.
She prefers her linguini cooked al dente.