adj Uncommon

Sicilian

sih-SIH-leern

Sicilian (adj) means From or relating to Sicily, the large Italian island off the toe of Italy. Example: “She cooked a rich Sicilian pasta dish with sardines and fennel.”

adj

From or relating to Sicily, the large Italian island off the toe of Italy.

"She cooked a rich Sicilian pasta dish with sardines and fennel."

"The film was shot in a small Sicilian fishing village."

noun

A person from Sicily.

"His grandparents were Sicilians who emigrated to New York in the 1950s."

In chess, any opening that begins 1.e4 c5, one of the most popular replies to the king's pawn opening.

"She always meets 1.e4 with the Sicilian to fight for an early advantage."

How to use Sicilian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to the island of Sicily or its people — or, in chess, a well-known opening defence.

Common pairings

Sicilian cuisine Sicilian Defence a Sicilian accent

Word forms

Sicilians plural

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She cooked a rich _____ pasta dish with sardines and fennel.

Etymology

From Latin Sicilia (Sicily) plus the adjective ending "-an".

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for Sicilian

Asian avian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Persian Serbian Latvian

See all rhymes for Sicilian →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Sicilian” mean?

The word “Sicilian” means from or relating to Sicily, the large Italian island off the toe of Italy. In plain terms, relating to the island of Sicily or its people — or, in chess, a well-known opening defence.

How do you pronounce “Sicilian”?

“Sicilian” is pronounced sih-SIH-leern (/sɪˈsɪlɪən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Sicilian” in a sentence?

Here is “Sicilian” used in a sentence: “She cooked a rich Sicilian pasta dish with sardines and fennel.”

What part of speech is “Sicilian”?

Depending on how it is used, “Sicilian” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “Sicilian” come from?

The word “Sicilian” comes from Latin. From Latin Sicilia (Sicily) plus the adjective ending "-an".

Is “Sicilian” a common word?

“Sicilian” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Sicilian” have?

“Sicilian” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: from or relating to Sicily, the large Italian island off the toe of Italy.