A strip or tube of pasta or similar starchy dough, typically served in soup or with sauce. Also slang for head or brain.
From German Nudel, possibly from Latin nodulus (little knot) or from an ancient root meaning to knead. The brain sense comes from the noodle-like appearance of brain matter when cooked.
Despite popular belief, Marco Polo didn't bring noodles from China to Italy - both cultures developed them independently. The word's journey from German kitchens to American slang shows how food terms migrate and evolve new meanings.
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