cappuccino

cap·puc·ci·no  (kp-chn, käp-)

n. pl. cap·puc·ci·nos

Espresso coffee mixed or topped with steamed milk or cream.

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[Italian, Capuchin, cappuccino (from the resemblance of its color to the color of the monk's habit); see capuchin.]

Word History: The history of the word cappuccino exemplifies how words can develop new senses because of resemblances that the original coiners of the terms might not have dreamed possible. The Capuchin order of friars, established after 1525, played an important role in bringing Catholicism back to Reformation Europe. Its Italian name came from the long pointed cowl, or cappuccino, derived from cappuccio, "hood," that was worn as part of the order's habit. The French version of cappuccino was capuchin (now capucin), from which came English Capuchin. The name of this pious order was later used as the name (first recorded in English in 1785) for a type of monkey with a tuft of black cowl-like hair. In Italian cappuccino went on to develop another sense, "espresso coffee mixed or topped with steamed milk or cream," so called because the color of the coffee resembled the color of the habit of a Capuchin friar. The first use of cappuccino in English is recorded in 1948.

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cappuccino [kap-poo-cheen-oh]

Noun

pl -nos coffee with steamed milk, usually sprinkled with powdered chocolate [Italian]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

cappuccino - equal parts of espresso and hot milk topped with cinnamon and nutmeg and usually whipped cream cappuccino coffee, coffee cappuccino coffee, java - a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans; "he ordered a cup of coffee"