Meanings
- uncountableJapanese or Korean food that is dipped in flour and then deep-fried, typically made from boneless chicken.
1 more example
Although Japan’s culinary lexicon did not include deep frying until the Portuguese introduced it in the 16th century, the country now has at least three distinct fried chicken styles: katsu, with super-crisp panko or bread crumbs, is used for pounded breasts; karaage, ginger-and-garlic-marinated thighs in a light, puffy crust of sweet-potato starch; and Nagoya-style tebasaki, or wings.
2009 October 7, Julia Moskin, “Fried Chicken: A Migratory Bird”, in New York Times
Origin
- Japanese唐揚げ
- Englishkaraage
Borrowed from Japanese 唐揚げ (karaage). Likely from 唐 (kara-, “Chinese, foreign”) + 揚げ (age, “deep-fried food”), although the etymology of kara is disputed.
More words from Japanese
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
karaage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/karaage
“karaage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/karaage. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “karaage,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/karaage.
Source: karaage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.