baklava
UK[ˈbɑːkləvɑː]US[ˈbɑːkləvɑː]
n
A sweet Middle Eastern pastry made of layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey or syrup.
Etymology
The word 'baklava' entered English from Turkish in the 17th century. The Turkish term itself is likely derived from a Mongolian root meaning 'to wrap up, pile up', which is a fitting description of the pastry's layered construction. An alternative theory suggests an origin in the Arabic word baqlawah, possibly meaning 'nut cake'. Regardless of its precise linguistic pathway, the word traveled with the dessert itself, which has ancient roots across the Ottoman Empire, Persia, and the Byzantine world, retaining its original form and culinary identity as it was adopted into English.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Turkish. It is not productively formed from separable morphemes within the English spelling system.
Examples
The bakery is famous for its rich, honey-drenched baklava.
We bought a tray of baklava with pistachios and walnuts to share.
Making traditional baklava requires patience to layer the paper-thin dough perfectly.