Tempura
/tɛmˈpʊərə/noun
A Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables coated in a light batter and deep-fried.
Did you know?The leading theory connects tempura to Portuguese missionaries in Japan, who ate fried fish and vegetables during the Ember Days, when meat was traditionally forbidden.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tem-
“To cut or divide; a proposed root underlying later words for measured portions of time.”
Classical Latin
Latin
tempus
“Time, a period, or an appropriate season.”
Late Latin
Latin
tempora
“Times or appointed seasons; also the name for the Christian Ember Days, seasonal periods of fasting.”
16th Century
Portuguese
tempora
“A term associated with the Ember Days; Portuguese missionaries and traders were active in Japan during this period.”
16th–17th Century
Japanese
天ぷら (tenpura)
“A Japanese adaptation of the Portuguese-associated term, applied to battered foods fried in oil.”
Modern English
English
tempura
“Japanese-style battered and deep-fried seafood or vegetables.”