onigiri

[oh-ni-geer-ee]

noun

Japanese Cooking.

1. cold boiled rice, formed into a palm-sized ball and stuffed with fish or pickled fruit, then shaped, usually into a triangle, and wrapped or decorated with dried seaweed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of onigiri¹

First recorded in 2000–05; from Japanese o- (honorific prefix); nigiri ( def. )

Example Sentences

To my right, a middle-aged office worker picks up a packet of fettuccine-shaped gummies, adding them to his cart, which holds a single onigiri and bottled coffee.

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A Japanese convenience store chain has suspended the sale of rice balls, or onigiri, and other deli items at 1,600 stores after it found that staff had faked their expiry dates.

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The chain has paused onigiri sales at most of its outlets since 9 August, and on Monday extended the pause to other deli items, for an "emergency investigation".

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"We sincerely apologise for the significant inconvenience caused to our customers who have supported Ministop's handmade onigiri and handmade bento boxes," the company said in a statement on Monday.

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Onigiri is popular among customers who want grab-and-go meals as the rice balls are easy to carry - wrapped in nori or dried seaweed and filled with protein like tuna salad or cod eggs.

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