Samosas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A savory pastry filled with spiced vegetables or meat, often deep-fried and served as a snack or appetizer
2. A triangular or folded pastry that encapsulates a seasoned filling, typically served hot and enjoyed at social gatherings
3. A popular Indian snack consisting of a crispy exterior packed with a mixture of potatoes, peas, and spices, often accompanied by chutney

Etymology: Samosas have travelled a long road before reaching Indian street stalls. The word descends from Classical Persian "sanbōsa", which came from the Middle Persian "*sambōsag", and it belongs to a family of names for stuffed pastries that stretches across the Middle East and North Africa. Close relatives include "sambusa", "sambusak", and "sambuseh", all pointing back to the same ancient ancestor. The Persian name reached the Indian subcontinent through Hindustani, where it became "samosa" or "समोसा". The pastry's form traveled with its name, so that a triangular case of thin dough folded around a filling became the basis for a dish that now looks very different from its distant cousins.