# What's the etymology of mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 4, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817 "2021-11-04T23:57:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [November 4, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817/1 "2021-11-04T23:57:32Z")

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Where does the word mandolin, as in the kitchen utensil, come from?

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**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817/2 "2021-11-05T01:01:31Z")

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According to the OED, it is the same word as the musical instrument, whose name comes from Italian _mandola_, which is in turn from Latin _pandura_, both names for musical instruments. Apparently the kitchen utensil was named after the instrument, but it’s not clear why. Suggestions are that the user’s hand movements are similar when cutting with a mandoline as when playing a mandolin, or that the design of the utensil is reminiscent of the strings on the instrument.

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**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817/3 "2021-11-05T12:51:04Z")

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I would guess it’s more likely the rapid repetitive hand motion that’s commonly used on the musical instrument, that’s like the motion you use when slicing on the utensil.

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-etymology-of-mandolin-the-kitchen-utensil/953817/4 "2021-11-05T14:34:05Z")

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> [@markn\_1](#):
>
> Apparently the kitchen utensil was named after the instrument, but it’s not clear why.

OK, that’s what I wanted to know, even though it isn’t a satisfying answer. Thanks.