Bulghur

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A grain product made from parboiled and cracked wheat, often incorporated into dishes like salads and pilafs for added texture
2. This versatile ingredient is derived from wheat that has been steamed and cracked, typically used in Middle Eastern recipes for its nutty flavor
3. A type of whole grain that is made from cracked wheat that has been partially cooked, commonly featured in various dishes for its distinctive taste and chewy texture

Etymology: Bulghur is a Turkish-world wheat product, and its name reveals a small sound change along the way. The Turkish form "bulgur" was formed by metathesis, the swapping of sounds within a word, from an older Ottoman Turkish "burğul." That older form came from Arabic "burghul," which itself was borrowed from Persian "barġul" or "parġul." So the name passed through several languages, and the Turkish speakers rearranged its consonants before it reached English. The English spelling "bulghur" is an alternative form of "bulgur," and both trace back to the same Persian origin. The word was taken into English through Turkish, which explains why the modern Turkish spelling is the one most dictionaries standardise on.