Terracotta
/ˌtɛr.əˈkɒt.ə/noun
A hard, fired clay used for pottery, sculpture, and building materials, usually left unglazed.
Did you know?Terracotta comes from Italian, but the idea is ancient: humans have been “fire-changing” earth into durable art and vessels for thousands of years, turning dirt into permanence.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
terra
“earth, land, soil”
Latin
Latin
cocta
“cooked, baked”
16th Century
Italian
terracotta
“baked earth; fired clay”
18th Century
French
terracotta
“fired clay, especially for sculpture or pottery”
Modern English
English
terracotta
“a hard, unglazed fired clay used for pottery, sculpture, and building materials”
Explore more surprising origins