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Onigiri

2 stages from Japanese to English.

Today it means a hand-shaped Japanese rice ball, often filled and wrapped in seaweed

Where does the word "onigiri" come from? It comes from Japanese onigiri, adopted directly into English (2000s-2010s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
onigiri
Japanese · medieval
"a rice ball, often wrapped in seaweed"
named a hand-formed ball of rice, originally a portable soldier's or traveler's meal
2
Stage 2 of 2
onigiri
English · 2000s-2010s
"a Japanese rice ball, often filled and wrapped in seaweed"
borrowed as convenience-store rice balls became a recognizable Japanese food export
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