Chopsticks

/ˈtʃɑpstɪks/ noun

Definition

A pair of thin sticks held in one hand and used as eating utensils, especially in East Asian cuisine.

Etymology

From Chinese 'kuai' (quick), with 'chop' added by English speakers to make it catchier. British traders added the '-sticks' part when trading in China.

Kelly Says

English traders heard Chinese 'kuai' (meaning quick) and turned it into 'chop-sticks' to make it sound more English, which is why the name doesn't match the original word at all.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.