Makizushi
/ˌmɑːkiˈzuːʃi/noun
Japanese sushi made by rolling vinegared rice and fillings in a sheet of nori and slicing the roll.
Did you know?Makizushi belongs to a broader Japanese tradition of naming foods through physical actions: maku means “to roll, wind, or wrap,” turning preparation itself into the dish’s name.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese
Japanese
maku
“To wind, roll, wrap, or fold around something”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
maki
“A winding, roll, or wrapped form; the noun form associated with maku”
8th–10th Century
Japanese
sushi
“A preparation of fermented or vinegared rice, from an older word associated with sourness”
Edo Period, 17th–19th Century
Japanese
makizushi
“Rolled sushi; sushi formed by wrapping rice and ingredients in seaweed”
20th Century
English
makizushi
“A Japanese sushi roll, used as a loanword in English”