Fajitas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A traditional Mexican meal that includes marinated grilled strips of meat, typically accompanied by sautéed vegetables, tortillas, and a variety of garnishes
2. A culinary creation from Mexico defined by its combination of grilled or sautéed meat slices, peppers, onions, and served with warm tortillas and toppings
3. A Mexican-style dish consisting of strips of seasoned grilled meat served with sautéed vegetables and wrapped in tortillas

Etymology: Fajitas are named after a strip of beef, not a dish. The Spanish "faja" means a strip or band, and it comes from Latin "fascia," meaning a band or bandage, which is also the source of English "fascia." The "-ita" ending is a diminutive, so "fajita" means something like "little strip," a name that refers to the thin cut of skirt steak traditionally grilled for the dish. The word is the plural of "fajita," and its meaning has moved far from the original sense of a band or sash. In American Spanish, the diminutive was applied to the cut of meat itself, and the dish took its name from that cut. Only later did the word come to name the whole preparation, served with tortillas and toppings.

Synonyms: tacos, wraps