Gelato
/dʒəˈlɑː.toʊ/noun
An Italian-style frozen dessert made with milk, sugar, and flavorings, typically denser and less airy than ice cream.
Did you know?Gelato comes from the same Latin root as words for freezing and frost, tying dessert language to the ancient idea of something held in a cold, unmoving state.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gel-
“to freeze, congeal, or become stiff”
Latin
Latin
gelāre
“to freeze or make icy”
Latin
Latin
gelātus
“frozen, congealed”
Medieval Italian
Italian
gelato
“frozen or chilled; later, a frozen dessert”
Modern English
English
gelato
“Italian-style ice cream”