moo shu

Where does the word "moo shu" come from? It comes from Chinese mù xū ròu, and was adopted directly into English (mid-1900s).

Moo shu’s story begins in Chinese: mù xū ròu meant “a stir-fried dish of shredded pork, egg, and vegetables.” Literally 'wood shavings pork', describing scrambled egg bits that resemble small wood chips. It reached English by mid-1900s as moo shu. Adapted into Chinese-American restaurant menus, often served wrapped in thin pancakes. Today, moo shu means a Chinese-American dish of shredded pork, egg, and vegetables, typically rolled in a thin pancake.

1. Stage 1 · Chinese · 19th century mù xū ròu "a stir-fried dish of shredded pork, egg, and vegetables", literally 'wood shavings pork', describing scrambled egg bits that resemble small wood chips.
2. Stage 2 · English · mid-1900s moo shu "a Chinese-American stir-fried dish served in thin pancakes", adapted into Chinese-American restaurant menus, often served wrapped in thin pancakes.