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Meze

3 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a selection of small Middle Eastern or Mediterranean dishes served together as an appetizer

Where does the word "meze" come from? It comes from Persian maza, passing through Turkish before entering English (1904).

1
Stage 1 of 3
maza
Persian · medieval
"taste, relish"
meant "taste" or "relish"
2
Stage 2 of 3
meze
Turkish · medieval
"appetizer"
adopted as the word for small savory appetizers
3
Stage 3 of 3
meze
English · 1904
"shared appetizer spread"
spread through the cuisines of the former Ottoman lands into English usage
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