Chiles

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of spicy fruit commonly used in various cuisines, known for adding heat and flavor to dishes
2. Plural form of a variety of peppers, often distinguishing between types by shape and heat level
3. The dried or fresh form of peppers that can be used in cooking, seasoning, or garnishing food to enhance its taste

Etymology: "Chiles" is simply the plural of "chile," which English borrowed from Spanish "chile." The Spanish word in turn comes from Nahuatl "chīlli," the name for the fiery fruit that Mesoamerican peoples cultivated long before Europeans arrived. That Nahuatl root is the source of the Spanish form, so the pepper's name travelled from the Aztec world into European languages and then back into English. The spelling variation tells part of the story. "Chili" and "chilli" are alternative spellings of the same word, and "chile" follows the Spanish spelling more closely. Writers in English have chosen among these forms for generations, and "chiles" in the plural keeps the Spanish-style spelling used for the peppers themselves.

Synonyms: peppers, capsicums