buñuelo

Spanish

Etymology

Diminutive of Old Spanish *boño, akin to Ladino bimuelo, Catalan bunyol (both “fritter, doughnut”). The underlying noun is at hand in Catalan bony (“bulge”). Further origin uncertain. Theories include a Gothic *𐌱𐌿𐌲𐌲𐌾𐍉 (*buggjō, “lump”) or identity with moño (“bun of hair”), itself probably from a pre-Roman substrate of Iberia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /buˈɲwelo/ [buˈɲwe.lo]
• Rhymes: -elo
• Syllabification: bu‧ñue‧lo

Noun

buñuelo m (plural buñuelos)

1. beignet (type of donut)
   • 1882, Benito Pérez Galdós, El amigo Manso:

     Renuncio a la Farmacia con tal de que usted me acompañe a tomar buñuelos

     I will renounce the Pharmacy as long as you join me for a beignet

Derived terms

• a freír buñuelos
• abuñolar
• buñuelo de viento

 

Further reading

• “buñuelo”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014