fufu

Where does the word "fufu" come from? It comes from Twi fufu, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Fufu’s story begins in Twi: fufu meant “pounded starchy dough.” A dough-like staple made by pounding boiled starchy vegetables. It reached English by 1900s as fufu. Twi 'fufuo', from the pounding of cassava and plantain in a mortar. Today, fufu means a dough-like West African staple food made from pounded starchy vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Twi · medieval fufu "pounded starchy dough", a dough-like staple made by pounding boiled starchy vegetables.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s fufu "a pounded, dough-like West African staple food", Twi 'fufuo', from the pounding of cassava and plantain in a mortar.