# origin of semolina - from "bran" or "fine flour"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 13, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273 "2009-05-13T12:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/1 "2009-05-13T12:28:11Z")
There seems to be a consensus from most dictionaries that the word semolina derives from the Italian _semola_, meaning “bran”, which in turn comes from the Latin _simila_, meaning “fine flour”. As bran and fine flour are basically opposites - does anyone know how this came to be? If not - do you know any experts who I could consult with? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/2 "2009-05-13T16:50:17Z")
I do not see the contradiction. It is a type of flour which has more bran than fine flour. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/3 "2009-05-13T21:19:24Z")
Maybe I wasn’t clear. Take a look at [this etymology](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=semolina): > [@](#): > > semolina > 1797, alteration of It. semolino, dim. of semola “bran,” from L. simila “the finest flour,” probably from the same Semitic source as Gk. semidalis “the finest flour” (cf. Assyrian samidu, Syrian semida “fine meal”). So while perhaps semolina has qualities of both bran and flour, semola was only bran. So why would it derive from a word meaning “fine flour”? ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/4 "2009-05-13T23:25:11Z")
I don’t think it is correct that _semola_ means bran. It is the flour of the hard wheat used for making pasta. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/5 "2009-05-13T23:32:00Z")
Sorry but I still do not see the issue. > [@](#): > > semolina hard grains left after bolting of flour. XVIII. alt. of It. semolino, dim. of semola bran, based on L. simila flour. This seems like quite a natural evolution of words and meaning. Bran and flour are quite related. You could ask the same question about most words in any language. > [@](#): > > matinée (plural matinées) - A showing of a movie or theatrical performance in the afternoon. From the French “matin” , morning. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/6 "2009-05-14T06:04:10Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > I don’t think it is correct that _semola_ means bran. It is the flour of the hard wheat used for making pasta. Cassel’s Italian Dictionary (click [here](http://www.amazon.com/Cassells-Italian-Dictionary-Thumb-indexed-Version/dp/0025225405#reader) and search for “semola”) has semola meaning both bran and fine flour. ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-semolina-from-bran-or-fine-flour/496273/7 "2009-09-15T06:34:34Z")
Thanks to everyone for their help. I finished my research and my post is up here: > **[solet and semolina](https://www.balashon.com/2009/09/solet-and-semolina.html)** > > A blog about the origin of Hebrew words and phrases and how they relate to English and other languages.