chilli
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
Etymology
The word 'chilli' entered English in the early 17th century from the Spanish 'chile', which itself was borrowed from the Nahuatl (the language of the Aztecs) word 'chīlli', referring to the chili pepper. This is a classic example of a loanword that traveled with the plant itself from the New World to global cuisines. The spelling 'chilli' is one of several English variants (alongside 'chili' and 'chile') that reflect different attempts to render the original Nahuatl term. Its journey from a specific indigenous term to a common international culinary noun illustrates the direct transfer of vocabulary alongside cultural and biological exchange.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in English.
Examples
The recipe calls for one finely chopped red chilli.
He accidentally bit into a very hot chilli.
Chilli powder is a key ingredient in many curries.