Amaretto
/ˌæm.əˈret.oʊ/noun
A sweet Italian liqueur flavored traditionally with almonds or apricot kernels.
Did you know?Amaretto’s almond-like flavor traditionally comes from benzaldehyde, often derived from almonds or apricot kernels, whose bitterness is linked to amygdalin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂emh₁-ro-
“Bitter; the reconstructed source associated with later Latin amarus”
Classical Latin
Latin
amarus
“Bitter or sharp-tasting”
Medieval Latin
Latin
amarus
“Bitter, figuratively harsh or disagreeable”
Medieval Italian
Italian
amaro
“Bitter; later, a bitter herbal liqueur”
19th Century
Italian
amaretto
“Diminutive of amaro: “little bitter one””
Modern English
English
amaretto
“An Italian-style sweet almond-flavored liqueur”