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Kheer

3 stages from Sanskrit to English.

Today it means A sweet South Asian dessert of rice (or vermicelli) simmered in milk with sugar and cardamom.

Where does the word "kheer" come from? It comes from Sanskrit kshira, passing through Hindi before entering English (20th c.).

1
Stage 1 of 3
kshira
Sanskrit · ancient
"milk"
meant 'milk'
2
Stage 2 of 3
khir
Hindi · medieval
"a sweet rice pudding made with milk"
became the name of a sweet milk-based rice pudding
3
Stage 3 of 3
kheer
English · 20th c.
"a sweet pudding of rice, milk, and sugar, often flavored with cardamom"
adopted in English food writing on South Asian desserts
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