kabob
UK[kəˈbɒb]US[kəˈbɑːb]
n
A dish consisting of small pieces of meat, seafood, or vegetables roasted or grilled on a skewer.
Etymology
The word 'kabob' is a culinary loanword that made its journey into English from the Arabic 'kabāb', which refers to fried meat. This term traveled widely through the languages of the Middle East and South Asia, such as Turkish, Persian, and Urdu, before being adopted into English in the 17th century. The original Arabic root k-b-b carries a sense of roasting or frying, which directly informs the modern cooking method. In English, 'kabob' (also commonly spelled 'kebab') retains its core meaning, specifically denoting pieces of food cooked on a skewer, and reflects the global influence of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines.
Analysis
The word 'kabob' is a simplex loanword. It entered English from the Arabic word 'kabāb', likely through Turkish, Persian, or Urdu. Its functional role is as a single, unanalyzable lexical unit in English.
Examples
We ordered chicken kabobs with peppers and onions from the street vendor.
For a healthy dinner, she prepared vegetable kabobs on the grill.
The marinade is the key to making these beef kabobs so flavorful.