The OED says, [It.; = pie]. I confirm the American usage....
wrote:
> > > > In fact I was told that 'pizza'
> > > > was Italian for 'pie'.
> > >
> > > I thought so, and I checked to be sure: Italian for
> > > "pie" is "torta". Probably where we get "tart" from.
>
> Here's what I got from an article on the history of pizza.
Apparently,
> the word "pizza" comes from the Latin "picea", which either refers to
> the blackening of the crust caused by the fire underneath or the way
> the hot pie is plucked from the oven.
>
> And yes, pizza is often called "pizza pie" in the States.
>
> Jeff