burrito

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπυρρός“flame-colored”
2. Latin · derived fromburricus“small horse”
3. Spanish · borrowed fromburrito
4. English todayburrito

Borrowed from Spanish burrito, diminutive of burro (“donkey”), from burrico (“donkey”), from Latin burricus (“small horse”), from burrus (“red-brown”), from Ancient Greek πυρρός (purrhós, “flame-colored”), from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”). A possible origin is due to its resemblance to a rolled up pack as typically carried by donkeys, making it an example of synecdoche.

Words from the same roots