Chocolate
/ˈtʃɒk.əl.ət/noun
A sweet food made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, often consumed as a beverage or in solid form.
Did you know?In ancient Mesoamerica, chocolate was used in sacred rituals and believed to be a gift from the gods, often served in ceremonies as a frothy drink.
Etymological Timeline
Nahuatl
Nahuatl
xocoatl
“A bitter drink made from cacao beans, consumed by the Aztecs.”
15th Century
Spanish
chocolatl
“Derived from Nahuatl, referring to the bitter beverage made from cacao.”
17th Century
English
chocolate
“Adopted from Spanish, referring to both the beverage and the substance made from cacao.”
18th Century
English
chocolate
“Transitioned to signify solid confections made from cacao, as sugar became more widely available.”