Word of the Day 2-12-12

Macaronic: adjective;

1. Composed of a mixture of languages.

2. Composed of or characterized by Latin words mixed with vernacular words or non-Latin words given Latin endings.

3. Mixed; jumbled.

noun:

1. Macaronics, macaronic language.

2. A macaronic verse or other piece of writing.

 

Origin:

Macaronic  is related to the word macaroni . Specifically, the pasta is named after the Southern Italian dialect maccarone, which was also associated with a mixture of Latin and vernacular languages.