Word of the Day

: June 6, 2010

olla podrida

noun ah-luh-puh-DREE-duh

What It Means

1 : a rich seasoned stew of slowly simmered meat and vegetables that is a traditional Spanish and Latin-American dish

2 : hodgepodge

olla podrida in Context

Ask around for ideas on how to stop hiccups and you’ll get an olla podrida of bizarre remedies.

Did You Know?

In 1599, lexicographer John Minsheu wanted to know "from whence or why they call it olla podrida." Good question. No one is sure why the Spanish used a term that means "rotten pot" to name a tasty stew, but there has been plenty of speculation on the subject. One theory holds that the name developed because the long, slow cooking process required to make the stew was compared to the process of rotting, but there's no definitive evidence to support that idea. It is more certain that both French and English speakers borrowed "olla podrida" and later adapted the term for other mixtures whose content was as varied as the stew. The French also translated "olla podrida" as "pot pourri," an expression English speakers adapted to "potpourri."