Maki
/ˈmɑːki/noun
A Japanese-style sushi roll made by wrapping rice and fillings in seaweed and slicing it into pieces.
Did you know?Maki comes from Japanese *maki-zushi*, meaning rolled sushi, with *maki* derived from *maku*, “to roll” or “to wrap.”
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
maku
“To roll, wrap, or wind around something”
Medieval Japanese
Japanese
maki
“A roll or something wrapped”
18th–19th Century
Japanese
maki-zushi
“Rolled sushi; sushi wrapped in seaweed”
20th Century
Japanese
maki
“A shortened form referring to rolled sushi”
20th Century–Present
English
maki
“A sushi roll, especially one wrapped in nori”