chili

or chil·e, chil·li

[chil-ee]

noun, plural chil·ies.

Also called chili pepper. the pungent pod of any of several species of Capsicum, especially C. annuum longum: used in cooking for its pungent flavor.
chili con carne.
a meatless version of chili con carne.

Origin of chili

1655–65; < Mexican Spanish chile < Nahuatl chīlli chili pepper

Can be confusedChile chili chilly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for chili

Contemporary Examples of chili

Add olive oil to the pan and toss in the garlic and chili flake.
Make Carla Hall’s Roasted Pork Loin With Cranberries
Carla Hall
December 24, 2014
Chili peppers were everywhere, drying on mats, on roofs, and in fields.
A Little Too Off the Beaten Path in Burma
Katya Cengel
June 2, 2014
And now Chili's and other eateries are considering taking similar action.
How the NRA Enables Massacres
Cliff Schecter
May 24, 2014
Within days, grilled lamb skewers spiced with cumin and chili were back on the street.
The Chinese Can’t Catch Their Breath
Brendon Hong
May 5, 2014
Atop the chili goes a spill of crisp chopped raw onions, and atop the onions you want a sprinkle of celery salt.
Classics Get a Cheesy Twist at Fall River Spot
Jane & Michael Stern
May 4, 2014

Historical Examples of chili

In Chili, the extra session of Congress convened on the 16th of December.
The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 4, March, 1851
Various
In Chili it is hunted with dogs, or, driven up a tree, is easily shot.
The Western World
W.H.G. Kingston
I hope to be able to connect his geology of that country with mine of Chili.
More Letters of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
This term is frequently used on the coasts of Chili and Peru.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth
Also, a term for a headland or promontory on the coasts of Chili and Peru.
The Sailor's Word-Book
William Henry Smyth

Word Origin and History for chili

n.

also chilli, 1660s, from Nahuatl chilli, native name for the peppers. Not named for the South American country. As short for chile con carne and similar dishes, attested by 1846.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper