masala

English

Etymology

Hindustani मसाला / مسالا (masālā, “spice(s)”), from Persian مصالح (maṣālih, “affairs, materials, spices”), plural of مصلحت (maṣlahat, “affair, policy, best thing to do”), both from Arabic, derived from صلح (ṣálaḥa, “be fit, competent, usable”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɑːlə

Noun

masala (plural masalas)

1. Any of many blends of spices used in Indian cuisine, most often containing cardamom, coriander, mace together with pepper, nutmeg, fennel seeds, jeera etc.

Derived terms

• garam masala
• tikka masala

Usage notes

• The term is often used in the names of individual dishes.

Anagrams

• salaam