cavatelli
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of cavatelli
First recorded in 1940–45; from Italian: literally, “little hollows,” diminutive of cavato, past participle of cavare “to hollow out,” from Latin cavāre, derivative of cavus “hollow, hollowed” + -elli plural suffix; see origin at cave ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A typical everyday pasta dish here is cavatelli with mussels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025
Many order the meatballs, chicken liver pâté and the fresh cavatelli pasta with hazelnut pesto and pecorino to pair with an Italian wine.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 24, 2024
"Try making some hand-formed noodles like cavatelli pressed over these artisanal cavarola boards," Ryan and Thomas say.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2023
Sourdough cavatelli teamed with shrimp, clams and mussels suggests “bouillabaisse” when finished with a sauce that fuses saffron, cream and flavors of the sea.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2022
But the hand-rolled cavatelli were perfectly firm for clinging to the tangy braise of shredded oxtails with raisins and a bittersweet undertow of cocoa.
From New York Times ● Aug. 24, 2021
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
