Macaroni

Macaroni Mac`a*ro"ni, n.; pl. {Macaronis}, or {Macaronies}. [Prov. It. macaroni, It. maccheroni, fr. Gr. ? happiness, later, a funeral feast, fr. ? blessed, happy. Prob. so called because eaten at such feasts in honor of the dead; cf. Gr. ? blessed, i. e., dead. Cf. {Macaroon}.] 1. Long slender tubes made of a paste chiefly of a wheat flour such as semolina, and used as an article of food; a form of Italian pasta. [1913 Webster]

Note: A paste similarly prepared is largely used as food in Persia, India, and China, but is not commonly made tubular like the Italian macaroni. --Balfour (Cyc. of India). [1913 Webster]

2. A medley; something droll or extravagant. [1913 Webster]

3. A sort of droll or fool. [Obs.] --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. A finical person; a fop; -- applied especially to English fops of about 1775, who affected the mannerisms and clothing of continental Europe. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

5. pl. (U. S. Hist.) The designation of a body of Maryland soldiers in the Revolutionary War, distinguished by a rich uniform. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]