Lingua Linguini
Have you ever noticed that Italian food names are misleading? It always sounds like you’re going to get several of something — e.g., “biscotti,” “panini.” But you get only one. So why not ”biscotum” and “paninum?” The octopi and I demand truth in advertising.
PS: It’s called “linguini” because it’s broad and flat, like a tongue. (At least that’s what I’ve heard.) Answers.com cites a couple of myths in which tortellini was (were?) inspired by various beautiful navels, which is just as well since whatever it is, the Italian for “anus pasta” couldn’t be as mellifluous.