macaroni

Etymology 1

From Italian maccaroni, obsolete variant of maccheroni (“macaroni”), plural of maccherone. This is of unknown origin, possibly from maccare (“bruise, batter, crush”), which itself is of unknown origin, or from late Ancient Greek μακαρία (makaría, “food made from barley”). Compare Sicilian maccarruni (“a single piece of macaroni”).

noun

1. (uncountable) A type of pasta in the form of short tubes; sometimes loosely, pasta in general.
2. (derogatory, historical) A fop, a dandy; especially a young man in the 18th century who had travelled in Europe and who dressed and often spoke in an ostentatiously affected Continental manner.
   'Sure never were seen two such beautiful Ponies; Other Horses are Clowns—and these macaronies 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, II.ii
   A small, noisy party of Fops, Macaronis, or Lunarians,—it is difficult quite to distinguish which,—has been working its way up the street. 1997, Thomas Pynchon, Mason & Dixon

adj

1. (historical) Chic, fashionable, stylish; in the manner of a macaroni.

Etymology 2

From French macaron. Doublet of macaron.

noun

1. (obsolete) A macaroon.
   Macaroni. It comes from Italy. It is a biscuit made of almonds, eggs, flower, and sugar. 1777, Charlotte Mason, The lady's assistant for regulating and supplying her table: being a complete system of cookery, containing one hundred and fifty select bills of fare, properly disposed for family dinners ... with upwards of fifty bills of fare for suppers ... and several desserts: including likewise, the fullest and choicest receipts of various kinds ...&source=gbs_navlinks_s) (cooking), page 300