latke
UK[ˈlɑːtkə]US[ˈlɑːtkə]
n
A pancake, especially one made from grated potato.
Etymology
The word 'latke' entered English from Yiddish (לאַטקע), where it denotes a pancake. The Yiddish term itself derives from the East Slavic languages, such as Ukrainian (оладка, oladka) or Russian (оладья, olad'ya), meaning a small fried pancake. This Slavic root is likely related to the Greek word 'eladion', meaning 'a little oily cake', tracing a culinary journey from ancient Greece through Eastern Europe and Ashkenazi Jewish culture into the English lexicon. The modern meaning is tightly bound to the specific potato pancake associated with Hanukkah traditions.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Yiddish. It is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes within modern English.
Examples
She grated potatoes and onions to make traditional potato latkes for Hanukkah.
The crispy latke was served with a dollop of applesauce and sour cream.
Every family seems to have its own secret recipe for the perfect latke.