papadam

English

A stack of papadams

Alternative forms

• papadum
• pappadam
• pappadum
• poppadom
• poppadum
• (uncommon) papadom
• (uncommon) pappadom
• (uncommon) popadom
• (uncommon) popadum
• (rare) papodum
• (rare) pompadom
• (rare) popodam
• (rare) poppodom
• (rare) puppadum
• (rare) puppodum
• (very rare) popodom
• (very rare) poppodum
• (very rare) puppadom

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil பப்படம் (pappaṭam), from Sanskrit पर्पट (parpaṭa). Although the word began to be attested in English in the 1860s, shortly after the establishment of the British Raj, it only came into consistent use around 1940, after which all of the forms indicated above as common have remained in use. Doublet of papad.

Noun

papadam (plural papadams)

1. A thin, crisp Indian food made from lentil flour, optionally spiced or flavoured in various ways and either grilled or deep-fried, which may be eaten on its own as a snack, with chutneys as a starter, or as an accompaniment to a meal.

Related terms

• papad

Translations

food

• Urdu: پاپَڑ m (pāpaṛ)

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, second edition