n. A deep-fried fritter made of vegetables or meat dipped in a chickpea batter, served as an appetizer or a snack in South Asian cuisine. [Hindi and Urdu pakoṛā, from Sanskrit *pakvavaṭaḥ : pakva-, past participle of pacati, he cooks; see pekw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + vaṭaḥ, lump, ball of pulse fried in oil.] |
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