A type of pasta shaped like small tubes, often used in dishes like mac and cheese.
From Italian 'maccheroni,' which comes from Greek 'makaria' (a type of barley porridge). The word evolved as the pasta dish spread from Italy across Europe.
In the 1700s, 'macaroni' became slang for a fashionable London gentleman who wore extravagant clothing—the connection comes from the exotic, imported nature of the pasta, which symbolized continental sophistication. That's why the American song 'Yankee Doodle' mocks a soldier by calling him 'macaroni!'
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.