korma

Where does the word "korma" come from? It comes from Turkish kavurma, passing through Urdu before entering English (1810s).

Korma’s story begins in Turkish: kavurma meant “roasted meat.” Roasted meat, verbal noun of kavurmak, to roast or fry. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Urdu as qorma. A Mughal court dish of meat braised in yoghurt and cream. It reached English by 1810s as korma. Hindi-Urdu 'qorma' names the braising technique itself rather than a particular sauce. Today, korma means a mild South Asian dish of meat or vegetables braised in a rich, creamy sauce.

1. Stage 1 · Turkish · medieval kavurma "roasted meat", roasted meat, verbal noun of kavurmak, to roast or fry.
2. Stage 2 · Urdu · medieval qorma "to braise", a Mughal court dish of meat braised in yoghurt and cream.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1810s korma "a mild, creamy South Asian braised dish", Hindi-Urdu 'qorma' names the braising technique itself rather than a particular sauce.