Origin: 1375–1425; < It pistacchio < L pistācium < Gk pistákion pistachio nut, dim. of pistákē pistachio tree < MPers *pistak (Pers pista); r. late ME pistace < MF < L, as above
1598, from It. pistacchio, from L. pistacium "pistachio nut," from Gk. pistakion, from pistake "pistachio tree," from Pers. pista "pistachio tree." Borrowed earlier (1533) as pystace, from O.Fr. form pistace (13c.).