cipollini

noun

cip·​ol·​li·​ni ˌchi-pə-ˈlē-nē 

variants or less commonly cipolline

plural cipollini or cipolline also cipollinis

: a type of small, somewhat flattened onion that has a thin skin and a sweet taste

cipollini onions

Add the cipollini to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and allow to caramelize evenly.

—Wine Spectator, 30 June 2010

Cipolline—which are showing up more and more in specialty produce markets—have a full, slightly sweet taste, and a firm-tender texture that's particularly good for pickling.

—Gourmet, March 2004

… roasted … monkfish with caramelized cipollinis and blood oranges.

—Wine Spectator, 31 May 2006

Word History

Etymology

cipolline borrowed from Italian cipolline, plural of cipollina, diminutive of cipolla "onion," going back to Late Latin cēpulla, diminutive of cēpa, caepa "onion"; cipollini, altered from cipolline, or borrowed from Italian, plural of cipollino, masculine variant of cipollina

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

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