tandoor

Meaning

Noun

• A cylindrical clay oven used, in the cuisine of the Caucasus, Middle East, and Indian subcontinent, to make flat bread, or to cook meat.

Origin

• From Hindustani तन्दूर / تندور, from Persian تنور, from Middle Persian, ultimately from Akkadian 𒋾𒂟, all meaning (clay) oven. According to the Dehkhoda Dictionary, the Akkadian word consists of the parts tin meaning "mud" and nuro/nura meaning "fire" and is mentioned as early as in the Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh, c.f. also Avestan tanûra and Pahlavi tanûr. athanor.