History / Vocabulary Why is Quarantine called Quarantine? August 10, 2020August 9, 2020 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment Did you know Quarantine is from an Italian word Quaranta meaning 40? In the following video, you can learn why quarantine means 40 and the quarantine history in the US and see some old footage of New York City. Like this:Like Loading...Share this: