comal

Where does the word "comal" come from? It comes from Nahuatl comalli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1900s).

Comal’s story begins in Nahuatl: comalli meant “a flat cooking griddle.” Named the flat clay griddle used to cook tortillas. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as comal. A flat clay or metal griddle still used across Mexico and Central America. It reached English by 1900s as comal. Borrowed into English through Mexican and Southwestern American cuisine. Today, comal means a flat griddle, traditionally made of clay or cast iron, used to cook tortillas and toast spices.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s comalli "a flat cooking griddle", named the flat clay griddle used to cook tortillas.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1600s comal "a flat griddle for cooking tortillas", a flat clay or metal griddle still used across Mexico and Central America.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s comal "a flat griddle used for cooking tortillas and other foods", borrowed into English through Mexican and Southwestern American cuisine.