Frites

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Deep-fried potato strips that are typically served as a side dish
2. A popular fast food item often enjoyed with various dipping sauces
3. A Belgian culinary staple often known for their crispy texture and delicious flavor

Etymology: "Frites" is the French word for chips in the sense of thin fried potato strips, and it is a plural noun: "frite" is the singular, meaning one fried strip, and the plural is used for the dish as a whole. The French word comes from the past participle of "frire", to fry, which descends from Latin "frigere", to roast or fry. So the English "fry" and the French "frite" share the same Latin ancestor. The English word entered use only in the twentieth century, borrowed directly from French, and it is used mainly in British and Belgian contexts and in dishes like steak frites. Belgians often claim to have invented the fried potato strip, though the origin of the dish is disputed and the claim is hard to pin down.

Synonyms: fries, French fries, chips, fried potatoes