falafel

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Arabic فَلَافِل (falāfil). Doublet of peepul and pepper.

1. A Middle Eastern food in the form of balls made from chickpeas or broad beans and other ingredients, often served in a pita.

   “There's a stall at the market that sells fantastic falafel.”

   “Lebanese restaurants are especially good for vegetarians, with falafel rolls (pitta bread stuffed with chickpea patties, hummus and tabbouleh) making an inexpensive, filling meal.”

2. A pita with falafel balls as a filling.

   “I ate lafa — falafel with all the regular stuffings and sauces wrapped in a pizza size pita instead of being stuffed in it. Etai ordered a regular falafel. My lafiz was twice the size of his falafel and although neither of us could finish the lafiz, we embarked on it together.”

   “Here, close-cropped future soldiers would learn how to introduce themselves to strangers, the proper way to order a falafel and a Coke, how to shout Get out of the car.”

3. A single falafel ball.

   “The stallholder puts salad into an open pita bread, followed by the four falafels, and then liberally covers them with hummus.”