pantry
UK[ˈpæntri]US[ˈpæntri]
n
A small room or cupboard in a house where food, dishes, and other kitchen supplies are kept.
Morpheme Breakdown
pan
try
pan
bread
try
place
Etymology
The word 'pantry' entered English from Anglo-Norman French panetrie, which derived from Old French paneterie, meaning a place where bread is kept. Its ultimate source is Latin panis, meaning 'bread'. Originally, a pantry was specifically a room or closet for storing bread. Over time, its meaning broadened to encompass the storage of all kinds of food and kitchen provisions, reflecting its central role in household management. The semantic shift from 'bread room' to 'general food storage area' illustrates the historical importance of bread as a staple food.
Analysis
Structure: pan (bread) + try (place)
'pan' originates from Latin panis (bread). 'try' originates from Old French -terie, a suffix denoting a place for something, which itself comes from Latin -āria.
Examples
She went to the pantry to fetch a jar of preserves.
We need to organize the pantry; the shelves are a mess.
The old house had a walk-in pantry next to the kitchen.