Yakiimo
/ja.ki.i.mo/noun
A Japanese roasted sweet potato, especially one sold warm in winter.
Did you know?Yakiimo is a compound of Japanese yaki- (“to roast/grill”) and imo (“potato, tuber”), and its history is tied to the famous winter street vendors whose calls became part of the season’s soundscape.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Japanese
Japanese
yaku
“to burn, roast, or cook by heat”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
imo
“potato, yam, or other edible tuber”
Early Modern Japanese
Japanese
yakiimo
“roasted tuber, especially roasted sweet potato”
Modern Japanese
Japanese
yakiimo
“roasted sweet potato sold and eaten as a winter snack”
Modern English
English
yakiimo
“a Japanese roasted sweet potato”