NYT Dictionary

HORCHATA

/(h)ɔːɹˈt͡ʃɑːtə/
NounHOR-cha-tahor-cha-ta · 3 syllablesAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2022, 2024

Meaning

A sweet beverage variously made with rice, chufa or morro seeds (or, historically, barley), water, sugar, and cinnamon, and sometimes with milk.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Borrowed from Spanish horchata, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *hordeata (“(drink, food) made of barley”), from hordeum (“barley”), either via Catalan/Valencian orxata (possibly via a Mozarabic source), or via Italian orzata. Doublet of orgeat (“almond syrup”) and orzo (“barley-shaped pasta”).

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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