Italian word meaning milk.
Caffe Latte is probably an Seattle invention, several years ago you could not get one at a coffeehouse in Italy. Asking for a "latte" would get you a glass of cold milk, or directions to the nearest grocery store. The closest thing at the time was Latte Macchiato, which was nowhere near as popular as Caffe Latte is in America.
At home however, Caffe' e latte was a common morning only drink, consisting of moka pot coffee mixed with heated milk. Used for dipping biscotti or biscuits, more than drinking.