burrito

Where does the word "burrito" come from? It comes from Mexican Spanish burrito, and was adopted directly into English (1930s).

Burrito’s story begins in Mexican Spanish: burrito meant “a little donkey.” Literally little donkey, a playful name for the rolled, stuffed tortilla. It reached English by 1930s as burrito. Spanish 'little donkey', perhaps for the bundle it carries; popularized in the US through California and Texas. Today, burrito means a rolled flour tortilla filled with meat, beans, rice, and other ingredients.

1. Stage 1 · Mexican Spanish · 1800s burrito "a little donkey", literally little donkey, a playful name for the rolled, stuffed tortilla.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1930s burrito "a rolled tortilla filled with meat, beans, and other ingredients", Spanish 'little donkey', perhaps for the bundle it carries; popularized in the US through California and Texas.