penne
UK[ˈpeneɪ]US[ˈpeneɪ]
n
A type of pasta in the shape of short, wide tubes, usually cut diagonally at both ends.
Etymology
The word 'penne' is a direct borrowing from Italian, entering English in the mid-20th century alongside the popularization of Italian cuisine. In Italian, 'penne' is the plural of 'penna', which derives from the Latin 'penna', meaning 'feather' or 'quill'. The pasta's name is a vivid metaphor, as its short, tubular shape with diagonally cut ends is thought to resemble the slanted point of an old-fashioned writing quill. Thus, the modern culinary term retains a direct visual link to an ancient writing instrument through its Italian name.
Analysis
This is a loanword from Italian. It is not productively segmented in English. The Italian word 'penne' is the plural of 'penna', meaning 'pen' or 'quill', due to the pasta's resemblance to an old-fashioned quill pen.
Examples
Penne is often served with a robust tomato or meat sauce.
For dinner, she prepared a baked penne with ricotta and spinach.
The recipe calls for 500 grams of penne rigate, which has ridges to hold the sauce.