quesadilla
UK[ˌkeɪsəˈdiːjə]US[ˌkeɪsəˈdiːjə]
n
a mexican dish consisting of a tortilla filled with cheese and sometimes other ingredients, then folded and cooked.
Etymology
the word 'quesadilla' entered english as a direct borrowing from mexican spanish, where it is a diminutive form of 'quesada', a type of cheese-filled pastry. 'Quesada' itself derives from the spanish word 'queso', meaning 'cheese', which has its origins in the latin 'caseus', a common term for cheese in the classical language. the diminutive suffix '-illa' conveys the sense of a smaller or more particular version of the item. thus, the term's literal journey from the latin for cheese to a specific, beloved mexican dish illustrates a clear path of culinary and linguistic adaptation.
Analysis
this word is a direct loanword from mexican spanish. it is not productively segmented using english morphemes.
Examples
we ordered chicken quesadillas with guacamole and sour cream.
the classic cheese quesadilla is a simple yet satisfying meal.
he folded the tortilla in half to make a perfect quesadilla.