pilaf
UK[ˈpiːlæf]US[piːˈlɑːf]
n
A dish originating in the Middle East and South Asia, consisting of rice cooked in seasoned broth, often with meat, fish, or vegetables.
Etymology
The word 'pilaf' entered English in the early 17th century, a direct borrowing from Turkish 'pilav'. The Turkish term itself traces back to Persian 'pilāv', a word for the rice dish. The Persian form is believed to have originated from Sanskrit 'pulāka-', meaning "a ball of boiled rice." This culinary term's journey from ancient India through Persia and the Ottoman Empire into Western languages illustrates the transmission of both a cooking technique and its name along historic trade and cultural routes. The modern English meaning retains the core concept of seasoned, cooked rice, though the specific preparation methods and additional ingredients have diversified.
Analysis
This word is a loanword borrowed as a single, unanalyzable unit into English. Its internal morphemes are not meaningful or recognizable within the English language system.
Examples
For dinner, she prepared a fragrant chicken pilaf with saffron and almonds.
The recipe for this vegetarian pilaf calls for basmati rice and a mix of seasonal vegetables.
Pilaf is a staple dish in many cuisines from the Balkans to Central Asia.