Etymology

fiat

F4I1A1T1

Today it means: An arbitrary or authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree. Full definition →

Latin fīat
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fiat · noun, verb1

  1. Latin · derived fromfīat“let it be done”
  2. English todayfiat

From Latin fīat (“let it be done”).

Fiat · noun2

From the Italian abbreviation: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (“Italian Automobile Factory of Turin”).

FIAT · proper noun3

  1. Italian · derived fromFIAT
  2. English todayFIAT

Back-formation from Fiat as a backronym. From the tendency of Fiat automobiles to apocryphally be always in need of repair. From Italian FIAT, from Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino (“Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin”)

FIAT · noun4

  1. Italian · borrowed fromFIAT
  2. English todayFIAT

From Italian FIAT, from Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.