pastina

American  

[pa-stee-nuh] / pæˈsti nə /

noun

1. very small pieces of pasta, available in various shapes, used especially in soups.

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Etymology

Origin of pastina

First recorded in 1900–05; from Italian: literally, “little pasta,” diminutive of pasta “pasta” + -ina feminine diminutive suffix; paste ( def. ), -ine ²

Example Sentences

Soup is the obvious recommendation for days when appetite has gone AWOL, but two in particular stand out as personal MVPs: the “tiny everything” pastina and rotisserie chicken congee.

From Salon

For the pastina, I cook finely chopped carrots, onions, and celery until soft, then remove and blend about half until silky smooth.

From Salon

This reminded me, in Italian-American culture, of pastina — a grain that has deep, revenant importance throughout both Italy, America and many countries beyond that.

From Salon

Similar to how pastina is sometimes referred to as "Italian penicillin," the same is true for chicken or chicken noodle, often hailed or regarded as "Jewish penicillin."

From Salon

This was soon especially evidenced after I posted a quick tweet and Facebook status, asking what about pastina did you hold so dear?

From Salon