molcajete

Where does the word "molcajete" come from? It comes from Nahuatl molcaxitl, passing through Spanish before entering English (1900s-1910s).

Molcajete’s story begins in Nahuatl: molcaxitl meant “a sauce bowl, mortar.” Combined 'molli' (sauce) and 'caxitl' (bowl), naming the stone mortar used to grind ingredients. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as molcajete. Carved from volcanic basalt, still used to make guacamole and salsas. It reached English by 1900s-1910s as molcajete. Borrowed into English through Mexican culinary tradition. Today, molcajete means a traditional stone mortar and pestle used in Mexican cooking to grind spices and prepare salsa.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s molcaxitl "a sauce bowl, mortar", combined 'molli' (sauce) and 'caxitl' (bowl), naming the stone mortar used to grind ingredients.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1600s molcajete "a stone mortar used to grind spices and make salsa", carved from volcanic basalt, still used to make guacamole and salsas.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s-1910s molcajete "a traditional stone mortar and pestle used in Mexican cooking", borrowed into English through Mexican culinary tradition.