Etymology Map
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Shashlik

3 stages from Crimean Tatar to English.

Today it means skewered and grilled cubes of marinated meat, especially as prepared in Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia

Where does the word "shashlik" come from? It comes from Crimean Tatar şış, passing through Russian before entering English (late 1800s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
şış
Crimean Tatar · 1700s
"skewer, skewered meat"
meant "spit"; shishlik meant "something for the spit"
2
Stage 2 of 3
shashlyk
Russian · 1800s
"skewered grilled meat"
adopted from Crimean Tatar via Cossack contact and spread across the Russian Empire
3
Stage 3 of 3
shashlik
English · late 1800s
"skewered grilled meat"
entered English describing the Caucasian and Central Asian dish
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