zeppole, n.

zeppole
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeppole_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zeppolenoun

## Earlier version

- zeppole in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zeppole mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zeppole. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### How common is the noun zeppole?

Fewer than 0.01occurrences per million words in modern written English

1850 | 0.0002
1860 | 0.0002
1870 | 0.0001
1880 | 0.0001
1890 | 0.00002
1900 | 0.00002
1910 | 0.00002
1920 | 0.0001
1930 | 0.0002
1940 | 0.0003
1950 | 0.0006
1960 | 0.0011
1970 | 0.0018
1980 | 0.0025
1990 | 0.0028
2000 | 0.0032
2010 | 0.0038

### How is the noun zeppole pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzɛpəleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay

#### U.S. English

/ˈzɛpəˌleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay
/zɛˈpoʊˌleɪ/
zep-OH-lay

### Where does the noun zeppole come from?

Earliest known use

1830s

The earliest known use of the noun zeppole is in the 1830s.

OED's earliest evidence for zeppole is from 1835, in Penny Magazine.

zeppole is a borrowing from Italian.

Etymons: Italian zeppoli, zeppolo; Italian zeppole, zeppola.

### Nearby entries

1. zephyry, adj. 1791–
2. Zepp, n. 1914–
3. Zepp, v. 1914–
4. Zeppelin, n. 1896–
5. zeppelin, v. 1910–
6. Zeppelined, adj. 1915–
7. Zeppelining, n. 1915–
8. Zeppelinist, n. 1912–
9. Zeppelinistic, adj. 1930–
10. Zeppelinite, n. 1909–
11. zeppole, n.1835–
12. zepto-, comb. form
13. zeranol, n. 1971–
14. zerda, n. 1780–1860
15. zerk, n. 1926–
16. zero, n. & adj. 1604–
17. zero, v. 1813–
18. zeroable, adj. 1956–
19. zero balance, adj. 1974–
20. zero-base, adj. 1962–
21. zero-based, adj. 1963–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from Italian.
Etymons: Italian zeppoli, zeppolo; Italian zeppole, zeppola.
In α forms < Italian zeppoli, plural of zeppolo (15th cent. as çeppolo), variant of zeppola (see below).

In β forms < Italian zeppole, plural of zeppola (late 16th cent.), of uncertain and disputed origin…
In α forms < Italian zeppoli, plural of zeppolo (15th cent. as çeppolo), variant of zeppola (see below).

In β forms < Italian zeppole, plural of zeppola (late 16th cent.), of uncertain and disputed origin.

### Notes

Etymology
Although it has been suggested that this word is ultimately < the Germanic base of tip n.1 + respectively Italian ‑olo ‑olus suffix and ‑ola ‑ola suffix1 (a supposed parallel motivation being shown by Italian regional (Abruzzi) kune, kene small fritter, lit. ‘wedge’), an alternative derivation < Italian Zeppe, regional pet form of the male forename Giuseppe (see Joseph n.) + respectively ‑olo ‑olus suffix and ‑ola ‑ola suffix1 seems more plausible, since in many regions of Italy the pastry is customarily eaten on the feast of St Joseph (19 March), especially in the south (e.g. in Campania, Puglia, Molise, Sicily). However, in some regions of Italy, e.g. in Campania, Umbria, and Sardinia, the pastry is customarily eaten during Carnival, of which the feast of St Joseph (which always falls in Lent) can never form part.
Specific forms
The Italian plural forms zeppoli (of the masculine noun) and zeppole (of the feminine noun) began to be interpreted as singulars in English use in the late 20th cent., and have in turn given rise to the English plural forms zeppolis and zeppoles.

## Meaning & use

1. 1835–
   Esp. in Italian and Italian American cookery: pastries consisting of fried balls or rings of dough, typically topped with powdered sugar and often containing a filling of custard, cream, etc.
   1. 1835

      > I have known a fellow to sell his only jacket to buy zeppoli and spezrato [sic] at Easter.

      Penny Magazine 25 April 156/1
   2. 1892

      > We also breakfasted religiously on maccaroni and zeppole.

      Nation 14 April 281/3
   3. 1958

      > Neapolitans serve zeppole, or cream fritters.

      D. G. Spicer, Festivals Western Europe v. 91
   4. 1979

      > I didn't want people dropping zeppoli all over our books.

      New Yorker 8 October 32/1
   5. 2009

      > There's little at first that can divert our attention from the basket of zeppoles, warm pillows of fried, salted dough.

      Cincinnati February 143/2
   6. 2014

      > Get a regular coffee and zeppola for $4.

      Advertiser (Australia) (Nexis) 16 August 20
   baking
   1. dough cake a1631–
      a. Any of various cakes made of dough; esp. a yeast-raised cake or bun; †b. English regional (Devon) a fool, an idiot (obsolete).
   2. doughnut 1782–
      Originally U.S. and English regional (southern). A small, spongy, fried cake of sweetened dough, usually in the shape of a ring or ball, and…
   3. olykoek 1795–
      A small ball-shaped cake made of sweetened dough and traditionally fried in lard (similar to a doughnut).
   4. nutcake 1801–
      A doughnut or other fried cake. Also more generally: a cake (also a pastry or dessert) containing (usually chopped or ground) nuts.
   5. poffertje 1804–
      In Dutch and South African cookery: a small light pancake or fritter, typically fried and dusted with sugar.
   6. zeppole 1835–
      Esp. in Italian and Italian American cookery: pastries consisting of fried balls or rings of dough, typically topped with powdered sugar and often…
   7. krapfen 1845–
      In Germany and other German-speaking areas: a doughnut (see also quot. 1845).
   8. simball 1865–
      A doughnut.
   9. sinker 1870–
      slang (originally U.S.). A heavy dumpling.
   10. Dutch doughnut 1871–
       A type of crisp, deep-fried, ball-shaped doughnut with a soft centre, often filled with raisins and traditionally eaten in Belgium and the…
   11. doughnut hole 1886–
       a. The hole in the centre of a ring doughnut; also in extended use; b. U.S. a bite-sized, spherical doughnut (so called because originally made of…
   12. French cruller 1886–
       A type of doughnut made from a light choux batter, typically in the shape of a ring with decorative fluting.
   13. vetkoek 1900–
       With plural agreement: small unsweetened cakes of deep-fried dough, typically served with a sweet or savoury filling. Also as a count noun: a cake of…
   14. bear sign 1903–
       slang. Among cowboys: doughnuts.
   15. koeksister 1904–
       A kind of sugared doughnut popular in South Africa.
   16. sinker 1906–
       U.S. colloquial. A doughy cake; esp. a doughnut.
   17. submarine 1916–
       U.S. colloquial. A doughnut. rare.
   18. cake doughnut 1920–
       A type of doughnut made from a cake-like batter rather than from dough leavened with yeast.
   19. mandazi 1937–
       In East African cookery: a small cake consisting of sweetened dough fried in oil, usually triangular in shape and typically eaten as a snack or as an…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzɛpəleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay

### U.S. English

/ˈzɛpəˌleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay
/zɛˈpoʊˌleɪ/
zep-OH-lay

###
Plural: zeppole

### British English

/ˈzɛpəleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay

### U.S. English

/ˈzɛpəˌleɪ/
ZEP-uh-lay
/zɛˈpoʊˌleɪ/
zep-OH-lay

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Inflections

Plural: zeppoles, unchanged ( British English /ˈzɛpəleɪ/ (ZEP-uh-lay) , U.S. English /ˈzɛpəˌleɪ/ (ZEP-uh-lay) , /zɛˈpoʊˌleɪ/ (zep-OH-lay) ), zeppoli, zeppolis, zeppolies

### Variant forms

##### α.

1. 1800s–
   zeppoli (plural)
2. 1900s–
   zeppoli (singular), zeppolie (plural), zeppolo (singular)

##### β.

1. 1800s–
   zeppole (plural)
2. 1900s–
   zeppola (singular), zeppole (singular)

## Frequency

zeppole typically occurs fewer than 0.01 times per million words in modern written English.

zeppole is in frequency band 2, which contains words occurring between 0.001 and 0.01 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zeppole, n., 1850–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1850 | 0.0002
1860 | 0.0002
1870 | 0.0001
1880 | 0.0001
1890 | 0.00002
1900 | 0.00002
1910 | 0.00002
1920 | 0.0001
1930 | 0.0002
1940 | 0.0003
1950 | 0.0006
1960 | 0.0011
1970 | 0.0018
1980 | 0.0025
1990 | 0.0028
2000 | 0.0032
2010 | 0.0038

### Frequency of zeppole, n., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 0.0062
2018 | 0.0046
2019 | 0.0056
2020 | 0.0073
2021 | 0.0059
2022 | 0.006
2023 | 0.0075
2024 | 0.0069

zeppole, n. was revised in June 2018.

zeppole, n. was last modified in September 2024.