americano meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

americano

nounalso spelled Americano

Etymology 1970s, from Italian (caffè) americano or American Spanish americano (“American (coffee)”). Cocktail sense from Italian americano.

A drink made of espresso coffee diluted with hot water.

Bond ordered an Americano and examined the sprinkling of over-dressed customers, mostly from Paris he guessed, who sat talking with focus and vivacity, creating that theatrically clubbable atmosphere of l'heure de l'apéritif.1953, Ian Fleming, “The Girl From Headquarters”, in Casino Royale, London: Pan Books, published 1955, page 37:
“No, the coffee. Do you want a cup of Americano?” I groaned. Welcome to Europe. “Can't I just get a cup of regular coffee? A little cream, a little sugar?” […] “An Americano is a shot of espresso with hot water added.” “I don't know why they call it Americano. No one in America drinks espresso and hot water.”2017, Ronald H. Balson, The Trust, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, page 16:

1 more example

And he drank americano. That was interesting. Was he lactose intolerant or did he simply prefer his coffee black?2018, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White, “Chapter 4: Sarah”, in The Glass Ocean, William Morrow, →ISBN:

A cocktail made with Campari, sweet vermouth, and club soda.

The waiters wore striped waistcoats and green baize aprons. Bond ordered an Americano and examined the sprinkling of overdressed customers, mostly from Paris he guessed, who sat talking with focus and vivacity, creating that theatrically clubbable atmosphere of l'heure de l'aperitif.1953, Ian Fleming, Casino Royale, page 30:
An Americano is made of Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water over ice in a highball glass. […] The drink was so popular among Americans visiting Italy at the turn of the last century that it was named after them.2009, Eric Felten, How's Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well, Agate Publishing, →ISBN, pages 37–38:

Derived terms: Americola, Canadiano, Russiano

Americano

noun

Alternative letter-case form of americano.

Formerly used only in Italy and Seattle, it includes such tongue activators as latte, lungo, cappuccino, ristretto, macchiato, mochaccino and Americano.1995 July 19, Suzanne Hamlin, “Coffee Drinks That Are Cool and Creamy”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Dec 2022:
Obviously, it will take a while to develop a circle of mates as good as the ones in Friends, especially as you’re going through a big change in your life, so be patient. And even if you find yourself sitting on your mum’s sofa eating Rich Tea biscuits for the third time this week instead of drinking Americano at Central Perk, don’t panic!2005, Victoria Perrett, Survive Divorce: Your Route Through the Financial and Emotional Maze, The Infinite Ideas Company Limited, →ISBN, page 19:

An American.

Imitating non-native speakers or in their context

I hear that your people love the Americanos, so much even that they always yield to them, and would almost kiss their boots, which is not dignified for a great nation. Do the Americanos love your people? Have they not still in their pockets the surplus of the millions of pesetas given to them when they complained of the ship Alabama?1897 January 23, Punch, page 40:
On da Av’noo D near Ten street Peno wida all heesa granda, magnifique muscle was grind out Signor Tomaso Mascagni’s maestropiece, ‘Cavallierre Rusticana,’ when long coma half doz verra bad Americano kid wid da snowball.1901 February 23, “Rocco Threw the Brick, but He Will Never Throw Another”, in The Bayonne Herald and Greenville Register, 34th year, number 2033, Bayonne, N.J., →OCLC, page 4, column 4:

4 more examples

“Soyez le bien venu, Monsieur Jean Boule et Monsieur Bronco. Che cosa posso offrirvi?” and, as they seated themselves at a small round table near the bar, hastened to bring the wine favoured by these favoured customers—the so gentle English Signor, gentilhomme, (doubtless once a milord, a nobile), and the so gentle, foolish Americano, so slow and strong, who looked at her with eyes of love, kind eyes, with a good true love.1916, P[ercival] C[hristopher] Wren, The Wages Of Virtue, published 1949, page 112:
[A] Frenchman, viewing the undraped statues which bedizen his native galleries of art, either enjoys them in a purely æsthetic fashion—which is seldom possible save when he is in liquor—or confesses frankly that he doesn't like them at all; whereas the visiting Americano is so powerfully shocked and fascinated by them that one finds him, the same evening, in places where no respectable man ought to go. All art, to this fellow, must have a certain bawdiness, or he cannot abide it.1918, H[enry] L[ouis] Mencken, “The Tone Art”, in Damn! A Book of Calumny, New York, N.Y.: Philip Goodman, →OCLC, page 106:
“It is a great pleasure to hear a Spanish song sung with such feeling by an Americano.” “An’ how did you know I was an Americano,” I crack at him, in English.1939, Peter Cheyney, Don’t Get Me Wrong, published 1943, page 11:
When the election started, the Americanos did try and raise a technical objection to the candidacy of the Latina in question, but this was quickly dismissed before it became an issue.1991, Allan David Heskin, The Struggle for Community, Westview Press, →ISBN, page 54:

Derived terms: Americola, Canadiano, Russiano