Rossa
/ˈros.sa/noun
The Italian feminine form of rosso, meaning “red,” and also a feminine given name or surname.
Did you know?Rossa descends from Latin russus, a color-word linked to the ancient Indo-European root for red, which also produced English red, ruby, rust, and ruddy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁rewdʰ-
“To be red or ruddy; the reconstructed ancient root of the color-word family.”
Classical Latin
Latin
russus
“Red, reddish, or rusty-colored.”
Vulgar Latin
Latin
*rossus
“A later spoken form associated with the development of Romance words for red.”
Old Italian
Italian
rosso
“Red; descended from Latin russus.”
Modern Italian
Italian
rossa
“Red in the feminine grammatical form; also used in names and titles.”
Modern English
English
Rossa
“Used mainly as a proper name or as an Italian word meaning “red.””