puri
UK[ˈpʊəri]US[ˈpʊri]
n
A type of deep-fried, unleavened bread from South Asia, made from wheat flour and typically puffed up while cooking.
Etymology
The word 'puri' entered the English lexicon as a borrowing from Hindi, reflecting the culinary exchange during the period of British colonial presence in the Indian subcontinent. Its ultimate origin lies in the classical Sanskrit language, where 'pūrikā' denoted a small cake or a type of bread. The term's journey from Sanskrit, through Prakrit and modern North Indian languages like Hindi, into English exemplifies the transmission of material culture through language. In English, it retains its specific reference to the puffed, fried bread, serving as a direct and unanalyzed label for this food item.
Analysis
This word is a direct loanword from Hindi (पूरी), which is itself derived from the Sanskrit word पूरिका (pūrikā), meaning a kind of cake or fried bread. It functions as a simplex noun in English.
Examples
For breakfast, we had hot puris with potato curry.
The street vendor skillfully fried the puri until it ballooned.
Aloo puri is a popular dish combining the bread with spiced potatoes.