chili
UK[ˈtʃɪli]US[ˈtʃɪli]
n
the small red or green seed case from particular types of pepper plant that is used to make food spicy
n
a spicy stew of meat, beans, and chilies, originating from the southwestern US
Etymology
The word 'chili' entered English in the early 17th century from the Spanish word 'chile', which itself was borrowed from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The Nahuatl term 'chīlli' referred specifically to the hot pepper plant and its fruit. This is a classic example of a loanword, where a term for a New World plant was adopted along with the plant itself into European languages and cultures. The spelling stabilized as 'chili' in English, reflecting the original pronunciation while adapting to English orthographic conventions.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in English. Its components are not productive morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The recipe calls for one finely chopped red chili.
He won first prize at the annual chili cook-off.
For a milder flavor, remove the seeds from the chili before adding it to the dish.