tortilla

Tortilla is a diminutive of Spanish torta (cake). When Spanish conquistadors saw Aztec tlaxcalli — the thin maize flatbreads — they called them 'little cakes.'

But tortilla already meant something in Spain: a flat omelette, made with eggs and often potatoes. The same word now names two very different foods.

Mexican tortillas are unleavened flatbreads made from maize (corn) or wheat flour. They're the foundation of tacos, burritos, enchiladas — essentially Mexican cuisine.

The confusion persists: order a 'tortilla' in Spain and you'll get an omelette; order one in Mexico and you'll get a flatbread. The word hasn't resolved its identity.