taco

Where does the word "taco" come from? It comes from Mexican Spanish taco, and was adopted directly into English (1940s).

Taco’s story begins in Mexican Spanish: taco meant “a filled, folded tortilla.” Possibly from a word for a plug or wad, describing a filled, folded tortilla. It reached English by 1940s as taco. Mexican silver miners used 'taco' for gunpowder wrapped in paper, a possible origin. Today, taco means a folded or rolled tortilla filled with meat, beans, or vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Mexican Spanish · 1800s taco "a filled, folded tortilla", possibly from a word for a plug or wad, describing a filled, folded tortilla.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1940s taco "a folded tortilla filled with meat, beans, or vegetables", Mexican silver miners used 'taco' for gunpowder wrapped in paper, a possible origin.