orzo
UK[ˈɔːtsəʊ]US[ˈɔːrtsoʊ]
n
A type of pasta shaped like grains of rice or barley.
Etymology
The word 'orzo' entered English directly from Italian, where it means "barley." The Italian term itself derives from the Latin 'hordeum,' meaning "barley." This Latin word can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root ǵʰr̥sdʰi-, also meaning "barley." The logic of the word's journey is straightforward: the pasta's small, grain-like shape directly resembles barley, leading to the adoption of the Italian word for barley as its name in English. It is a clear example of a loanword where the original meaning of the source language term provides a direct visual description for the imported object.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from Italian, where it functions as a simplex noun. The Italian word 'orzo' means "barley," which is the semantic source for the pasta's shape and name.
Examples
The soup was thickened with a handful of orzo.
For a change from rice, try serving the stew over orzo.
She prepared a cold pasta salad with orzo, olives, and feta cheese.