Souvlaki

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Greek dish made of marinated meat cut into small pieces and grilled on skewers typically served with pita and sauces
2. This popular food consists of small chunks of meat cooked on skewers, often enjoyed with sides like salads and sauces
3. A traditional Greek meal featuring small pieces of meat seasoned and cooked on a skewer over a grill

Etymology: The Greek "souvláki" is the diminutive of "soúvla," a word for a spit or skewer, so the name literally means "little skewer." In modern Greek, the word refers to the meat itself, not the stick it is cooked on, which is a useful reminder that food names often shift from the tool to the thing it holds. The "-aki" ending is a common diminutive suffix in Greek, the same ending that turns many nouns into affectionate or smaller forms. Greek "soúvla" comes from an older root for a pointed rod, and the word has long been used for roasting meat over a fire, which is why the skewered dish carries its name so directly. When the word entered English, it was borrowed directly from modern Greek, so it kept its original sense of small skewered pieces of meat, usually grilled and served with bread, salad, and sauce.

Synonyms: kebab, skewered meat