Tortilla
/tɔːrˈtiː.jə/noun
A thin, round flatbread made from corn or wheat flour, common in Spanish and Latin American cuisine.
Did you know?Spanish tortilla is a diminutive of torta, and torta ultimately comes from Latin torta, “twisted” or “round cake,” from torquere, “to twist,” the same ancient root behind torture and torque.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
torta
“A twisted or round cake; something shaped by turning or twisting.”
Late Latin
Latin
tortīcia
“A small cake or loaf, a diminutive form related to torta.”
Old Spanish
Old Spanish
tortilla
“A little cake or flat cake.”
16th Century
Spanish
tortilla
“A small flat cake, later especially a thin round bread or omelet.”
Modern English
English
tortilla
“A thin, round flatbread or wrap, especially in Mexican and Southwestern cuisine.”