Word origins

• BuccellatoA surname from Italian.
• buccheroA type of dark grey Etruscan terracotta pottery.
• BuccieriA surname from Italian.
• budinoA sweet Italian dessert dish, usually rich and creamy like a custard or pudding.
• BuemiA surname from Italian
• BuffoneA surname from Italian.
• buonamanoIn Italian contexts, a tip or gratuity.
• BuonauroA surname from Italian.
• burlettaA comic operetta; a musical farce.
• burrataA fresh southern Italian cheese similar to creamy mozzarella.
• BusalacchiA surname from Italian.
• BuscemeseOf, from, or pertaining to Buscemi, the Buscemese people or the Buscemese dialect.
• busiateA form of trofie pasta from the region of Trapani.
• CacaceA surname from Italian.
• CaccavaleA surname from Italian.
• cacciatoraA style of cooking in which meat is cooked in a sauce containing mushrooms, shallots, tomatoes, white wine and herbs.
• caciocavalloAn Italian cheese, similar to provolone, originally from Sicily and the South.
• cacio e pepeA pasta dish made from tonnarelli, pici, spaghetti, or other pasta with finely grated pecorino and pepper.
• CafarelliA surname from Italian.
• caffèAn Italian café.
• caffè americanoA drink made of espresso and hot water.
• caffè latteEspresso coffee with steamed milk.
• caffè macchiatoSynonym of macchiato.
• caffè mochaSynonym of mocha (“type of coffee”).
• cafoneA boorish, uneducated Italian-American.
• CagliaritanOf, from or relating to the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy.
• CaiazzoA comune in Caserta, Italy.
• cailcedraThe Senegal mahogany tree (Khaya senegalensis).
• CaiolaA surname from Italian [in turn from Sicilian].
• CalamiaA surname from Italian.
• CalcagniA surname from Italian.
• calcarA small oven or furnace, used for the calcination of sand and potash, and converting them into frit.
• CaligarisA surname from Italian.
• CallariA surname from Italian.
• CaltabianoA surname from Italian.
• CalvanoA surname from Italian.
• CamaldolesePertaining to the Camaldolese Order of Italy.
• cambiataA pattern in a homophonic or polyphonic (and usually contrapuntal) setting of a melody where a note is skipped from (typically by an interval of a third) in one direction (either going up or down in pitch) followed by the note skipped to, and then by motion in the opposite direction, and where either the note skipped from is distinguished as a dissonance or the note skipped to is distinguished as a non-harmonic or non-chordal tone.
• camerlengoThe cardinal who administers the Roman Catholic Church in the interregnum between Popes.
• CammaranoA surname from Italian.
• CammorataA surname from Italian.
• CamorraA secret crime organization from Naples, Italy, equivalent to the Mafia of Sicily.
• CamorristaA member of the Camorra criminal organization.
• CampanaroA surname from Italian.
• CampeaA surname from Italian.
• CampiseA surname from Italian.
• candytuftAny member of the genus Iberis of flowering plants.
• cane corsoA dog of an Italian breed valued as a companion, guardian and hunter.
• CannatellaA surname from Italian.
• cannellini beanA white kidney bean.
• CannizzoA surname from Italian.
• cannolicchiPasta in short twisted tubes resembling razor clams.
• cannoloA tube of fried pastry filled with ricotta.
• cantabankA strolling singer.
• cantatriceA professional female singer.
• canzonA song.
• canzonetA short song, now especially one which is light and breezy.
• canzonettaA style of popular Italian secular vocal composition which originated around 1560, or a piece composed in this style
• CapaldoA surname from Italian.
• capelli d'angeloSynonym of angel hair (“type of pasta”).
• capicolaA traditional Neapolitan-Italian cold cut made from pork shoulder or neck and dry-cured whole.
• capo di tutti capiBoss of all the bosses, especially in the mafia, Cosa Nostra etc. Often used by law enforcement, the media and the public in general to describe a Mafia boss who exerts significant influence on how the Mafia should run.
• caponataA Sicilian dish of baked aubergines with capers, olives, pine nuts etc, normally served cold.
• capotastoA device, placed across the strings of a fretted instrument such as a guitar, to shorten the strings and thus allow upward transposition without altered fingering
• CapozzielloA surname from Italian.
• CappadonaA surname from Italian.
• CapparelliA surname from Italian.
• CappellantiA surname from Italian.
• CappettaA surname from Italian.
• CapraroA surname from Italian.
• caprese saladAn Italian salad of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil, seasoned with salt and olive oil.
• caprettomeat from a kid, or young goat
• capricciosocapriciously
• carabiniereA member of the carabinieri.
• CaracciA surname from Italian.
• CaradonnaA surname from Italian.
• CaramellaA surname.
• CarattiniA surname from Italian.
• CaravaggistiThe stylistic followers of the late 16th-century Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio.
• CaravellaA surname from Italian.
• CaravelloA surname from Italian.
• carbonarimember or members of the carboneria secret society
• CarbonaroA member of the Carbonari secret society.
• CarchiaA surname from Italian.
• CarcoforoA village in Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy.
• CarfagnoA surname from Italian.
• CarielloA surname.
• carnaroliA medium-grain variety of rice from around Pavia, used especially in risottos.
• caroonA crown (coin); its value, 5 shillings.
• carosellaA form of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) used in salads.
• caro sposoA dear husband.
• CarotenutoA surname from Italian.
• CarpinoA surname from Italian.
• carroccioA large four-wheeled wagon bearing the city signs around which the militia of the medieval communes gathered and fought, particularly in northern Italy.
• CarrubbaA surname from Italian.
• CarusilloA surname from Italian.
• CarusoneA surname from Italian.
• casarecceA type of pasta in the form of short, narrow, twisted tubes.
• CasasolaA surname from Italian.
• cascatelliA type of pasta consisting of one flat piece joined at right angles to two ruffle-shaped pieces.