Macaronic Latin
Preserved but no longer current.
Dog Latin (#.v.), modern words with Latin endings, or a mixture of Latin and some modern language. From the Italian macheroni (macaroni), a mixture of coarse meal, eggs, and cheese. The law pleadings of G. Steevens, as Daniel v. Dish- clout and Bullum v. Boatum, are excellent examples.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Macaronic Latin” mean?
Dog Latin (#.v.), modern words with Latin endings, or a mixture of Latin and some modern language. From the Italian macheroni (macaroni), a mixture of coarse meal, eggs, and cheese. The law pleadings of G. Steevens, as Daniel v. Dish- clout and Bullum v. Boatum, are excellent examples.
Is “Macaronic Latin” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.