Early 19th century (originally denoting the real or imitation sweets thrown during Italian carnivals): from Italian, literally 'sweets', from Latin confectum 'something prepared', neuter past participle of conficere 'put together' (see confect).

• It was the custom during Italian carnivals and public celebrations for people to throw little sweets, known as confetti. The Italian word comes from Latin confectum ‘something prepared’. As time went on people threw small plaster balls instead of sweets, which were meant to break open in a cloud of white dust when they hit someone. Charles Dickens describes the custom in 1846: ‘The spectators…would empty down great bags of confetti, that descended like a cloud, and…made them as white as millers.’ By the end of the 19th century English had borrowed the Italian word to refer to the coloured paper shapes that wedding guests shower on the bride and bridegroom after the marriage ceremony. A related word is confectionery (late 17th century), both words being traceable back to Latin conficere ‘put together’.