barilla
|ba-ril-la|
/bəˈrɪlə/
plant or ash used to make soda ash
Etymology
'barilla' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'barilla,' where 'barra' meant 'rod' and the diminutive suffix '-illa' indicated 'small' or 'little'.
'barilla' passed from Spanish (and medieval Spanish usages) into English in the early modern period, originally referring to the small rods or the plants and then to the alkali produced by burning them.
Initially, it had the sense of 'little rod' (or the plant resembling rods) and later came to mean the plant used in alkali production and the soda ash product itself; subsequently it has also been adopted as a brand name.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
any of several salt-tolerant plants (such as glassworts and certain Salsola species) whose ashes were historically burned to produce soda for glassmaking and soap.
Coastal communities collected barilla to supply glassmakers with alkali.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the soda ash or crude sodium carbonate obtained by burning these plants; historically an important industrial alkali.
In the 17th century, large quantities of barilla were exported for use in glass and soap production.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a proper-name sense referring to the Italian food company known for pasta and other products (brand name).
barilla is a well-known pasta brand in many countries.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/16 11:50