pastilha elástica (Portuguese)

Where does "pastilha elástica" come from?

The Portuguese term 'pastilha elástica' literally translates to 'elastic tablet.' This descriptive name reflects the nature of chewing gum as a small, moldable substance that can be stretched and pulled during use.

Full etymology tree

• pastilha elástica (Portuguese), 'chewing gum'
  • compound pastilha (Portuguese), 'tablet, lozenge, pastille'
    • borrowed pastilla (Spanish), 'pill'
  • compound elástica (Portuguese), 'feminine singular of elástico'
    • inherited elasticus (Latin), 'elastic, ductile, flexible'
      • inherited ἐλαστικός (elastikós) (Ancient Greek)

Updated July 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris