etymology - Why is a calzone called calzone?


I was just researching its etymology and turns out that it comes from calceus the Latin for shoe! How did Latin for shoe end up as the Italian (and subsequently, English) for a snack? They seem so unrelated!


Here's what Merriem Webster says about its etymology:



Origin of CALZONE


Italian, from calzone (singular of calzoni pants), augmentative of calza stocking, from Medieval Latin calcea, from Latin calceus shoe, from calc-, calx heel First Known Use: 1947



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Answer



The origin of the term 'calzone' meaning 'pizza calzone' is not clear. Actually calzone is the augmentative form of the term 'calza' which means stocking. The idea is that of a 'Christmas stocking' filled with food, a popular idea in the south of Italy.


As Mari Lou rightly pointed out, the stocking full of gifts we are referring to comes from the Epiphany Eve custom which traditionally closes the Christmas period celebrations in Italy.


Le calze della Befana


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