A Middle Eastern spread made from ground chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
From Arabic ḥummuṣ meaning 'chickpeas,' the main ingredient of the dish. The word entered English in the mid-20th century through increased cultural contact with Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly after World War II. The dish and its name became widely known in English-speaking countries through Middle Eastern immigration and the growing popularity of Mediterranean foods.
This popular dip is literally just the Arabic word for 'chickpeas'! The dish was so identified with its main ingredient that Arabic speakers named it after the beans themselves, and English speakers kept that simple, straightforward name when the food became trendy.
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