mole

Where does the word "mole" come from? It comes from Nahuatl mōlli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1930s).

Mole’s story begins in Nahuatl: mōlli meant “sauce, something ground.” Meant simply 'sauce' or 'something ground', the base word for many Aztec sauces. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as mole. Mole poblano from Puebla is said to have been invented by nuns of the Convent of Santa Rosa. It reached English by 1930s as mole. Borrowed into English through Mexican cuisine. Today, mole means a rich, complex Mexican sauce, often containing chili peppers, spices, and sometimes chocolate.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s mōlli "sauce, something ground", meant simply 'sauce' or 'something ground', the base word for many Aztec sauces.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1600s mole "a rich, complex sauce, often made with chilies and chocolate", mole poblano from Puebla is said to have been invented by nuns of the Convent of Santa Rosa.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1930s mole "a rich Mexican sauce, often containing chili peppers and chocolate", borrowed into English through Mexican cuisine.