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Stage 1 of 3
tomatl
Nahuatl · pre-1500s
"a round, plump fruit"
the root word for a plump fruit encased in a papery husk
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Stage 2 of 3
tomatillo
Spanish · 1700s
"a small, husked green fruit"
formed in Mexican Spanish by adding the diminutive '-illo' to distinguish it from the red tomato
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Stage 3 of 3
tomatillo
English · 1900s
"a small, husked green fruit used in Mexican cooking"
borrowed into English culinary usage for the tart green fruit used in salsa verde
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