Word origins

• bagnioA brothel.
• bajoccoA coin, originally copper, later silver, issued by the Papal States from the 15th century to 1865. In the 19th century the value was five hundredths of a lira.
• baldrescaA shelf that supports a loggia.
• ballabileA dance performed by the corps de ballet, or by the chorus in an opera.
• ballerinoA male ballet dancer.
• ballotinismall beads (usually of glass, typically of 1-4mm diameter)
• balusteredHaving one or more balusters.
• bambocciadeA bambocciante painting, depicting a scene from lower-class or rustic life.
• bamboccianteAny of a group of Dutch painters, from the seventeenth century, who painted scenes from ordinary life; used attributively to describe the style of their paintings
• bandittiRobbers or outlaws.
• BaragonaA surname from Italian.
• BarbadoroA surname from Italian.
• barbuteA type of visorless helmet, of 15th-century Italian design, including a T or Y shaped opening for the eyes and mouth.
• BarbutoA surname from Italian.
• BardellaA surname from Italian.
• BareseOf, from or relating to the prefecture, Apulia, Italy.
• baronessaAn Italian baroness.
• BartolomeiA surname from Italian.
• BartolottaA surname from Italian.
• bassettoA tenor viol or small bass viol.
• basso continuoThe continuous realization of harmony throughout a musical piece, usually by a harpsichord and/or cello, typical of the Baroque period. Abbreviation: bc.
• basso ostinatoSynonym of ground bass.
• basso profondoA singer with a bass voice of the lowest range.
• bastard violSynonym of viola bastarda.
• BatagliaA surname from Italian.
• bavareseA bavaroise (creamy dessert).
• bavettebeef flank steak
• beccaficoA small bird, Sylvia hortensis, figpecker.
• BeccariA surname from Italian.
• bel cantoAn elegant style of singing characterized by beautiful tone and an effortless technique.
• BelcastroA surname from Italian.
• BellantoniA surname from Italian.
• BellaviaA surname from Italian.
• BellinaA surname from Italian.
• Bel PaeseA soft, mild, creamy Italian cheese shaped in small disks and produced from cow's milk, originally from Lombardy.
• BelsitoA surname from Italian.
• bemolThe flat symbol (♭), or a flattened note.
• BenantiA surname from Italian.
• BencivengaA surname from Italian.
• BenenatiA surname from Italian.
• BentivegnaA surname from Italian.
• BerchiddaA city and commune of the province of Sassari, Sardinia, Italy.
• BergamaskOf or characteristic of Bergamo, Italy.
• bergamiaA species of the citrus fruit bergamot, probably a natural hybrid between a lemon and an orange.
• BergoglioA surname from Italian [in turn from toponymy].
• BernardinaA female given name from Italian, of rare usage.
• bersagliereA marksman or rifleman in certain Italian regiments.
• BettacchiA surname from Italian.
• BettachiniA surname from Italian.
• bezonianA beggar, pauper, or rascal.
• BezzecchiA surname from Italian
• bezzoAn old silver Venetian coin worth half a soldo.
• BibisiA surname from Italian.
• BifulcoA surname from Italian.
• bigoliA type of spaghetti, with a rough texture, from the Veneto.
• BilleriA surname from Italian.
• BilottiA surname from Italian.
• BiondolilloA surname from Italian.
• birettaA square cap, originally with four ridges across the top, surmounted by a tuft, worn by Roman Catholic clergy (and by some in the Anglican Church). A three-sided biretta is worn by Roman Catholic clergy for liturgical celebrations.
• bisbigliandoTremolo produced by a bowed or plucked string instrument such as a harp.
• bittoa cheese produced in the Valtelline valley in Lombardy
• BivonaA surname from Italian.
• BizzarroA surname from Italian.
• black kaleSynonym of cavolo nero (“a variety of kale”).
• black nobilityThe Roman aristocratic families who sided with the papacy under Pope Pius IX after the Savoy family-led army of the Kingdom of Italy entered Rome on 20 September 1870, overthrew the Pope and the Papal States, and took over the Quirinal Palace; and any nobles subsequently ennobled by the Pope prior to the 1929 Lateran Treaty.
• blackshirtA uniformed member of a paramilitary wing of the Italian Fascist Party.
• BlandinoA surname from Italian.
• BlandoA surname.
• BoccaccianOf or pertaining to Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), Italian author and poet, or to his works.
• boccaleA unit of volume formerly used in Italy, varying by region.
• BoccioA surname from Italian.
• bocconciniSmall pieces of mozzarella cheese.
• BoiardiA surname from Italian.
• bolgiaAny of the divisions of the eighth circle of Hell, Malebolge, in Dante's Divine Comedy.
• bolineA white handled knife used in Wicca, for physical cutting, in contrast to the athame.
• bologninoAny of several types of coin once minted in Bologna.
• BonafedeA surname from Italian.
• bona robaAn attractive woman, especially one who is sexually available; a prostitute or courtesan.
• BonaviaA surname from Italian.
• BonavitaA surname from Italian.
• BontempelliA surname from Italian.
• BontempoA surname from Italian.
• BordonaroA surname from Italian.
• borghettoAn Italian shanty town.
• borlotti beanA kind of plump, creamy bean with variegated coloration, related to the kidney bean.
• BorrusoA surname from Italian.
• bottargaA Mediterranean dish of cured fish roe
• BottiniA surname from Italian.
• bozzettoA small scale model used to make a larger sculpture.
• BozziA surname from Italian.
• braciolaA slice of pan-fried or grilled meat, cooked in its own juice or in a small amount of olive oil.
• brandistockA short polearm that has three retractable blades concealed in its handle, which are sprung upon a thrusting action forming a three-pronged spear.
• branzinoThe European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax.
• bresaolaAir-dried salt-cured beef fillet that has been aged about 2-3 months until it becomes very hard and a dark red, almost purple colour.
• BrienzaA surname from Italian.
• broccoli rabeRapini, a leafy-green vegetable.
• BrognaA surname from Italian.
• BrucatoA surname from Italian.
• BrusatteA surname from Italian.
• bucatiniA thicker form of spaghetti with a hole running through it.