A Pantry Was Originally for Bread
A pantry is a food store. Its name comes from bread, and the larder next door was for bacon.
A pantry is a small room for storing food. Its name is specific: French *paneterie* comes from *pain*, bread, so a pantry was the bread store. The neighbouring *larder* is equally literal, from *lard* — it was where bacon and salted meat were kept. Two rooms, two preserved foods, two surviving names.
- A food store. *A well-stocked pantry.*
- A butler's pantry. *Through the butler's pantry.*
- Larder — a cool food store. *In the larder.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | pantry | A walk-in pantry. |
| Plural | pantries | Two pantries. |
| Related | larder | A cold larder. |
| Related | pannier | A bicycle pannier. |
| Related | companion | A travelling companion. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Pantry comes from bread.French *pain*.
- A larder was for lard and bacon.Preserved meat.
- Companion means one who shares bread.Latin *com* and *panis*.
Words from *panis*, bread
- Pantry — the bread store
- Companion — one who shares bread with you
- Company — those who eat together
- Pannier — originally a bread basket
- Appanage — provision for a younger royal child
From Old French *paneterie*, a bread store, from Latin *panis*, bread. *Larder* comes from *lardum*, bacon fat.
Pantry or larder?
Historically a pantry stored bread and dry goods, a larder meat and perishables. Today the words overlap, with larder implying a cooler room.
Are company and companion related to bread?
Yes. Both come from Latin *com* and *panis*, meaning those who share bread together.