balti
|bal-ti|
/ˈbælti/
curry named for a bucket-like pan; also of Baltistan
Etymology
'balti' originates from Hindi/Urdu, specifically the word 'balṭī' (बाल्टी / بالٹی), where the root meant 'bucket' or 'pail'. The culinary sense in English developed in late 20th-century Britain to name a style of curry cooked and served in a balti-style pan.
The Hindi/Urdu 'balṭī' (meaning 'bucket') was adopted into English in the context of South Asian cuisine; the word shifted from referring to a container to naming the dish prepared in that vessel. Separately, the ethnonym 'Balti' (for people/language of Baltistan) derives from the place-name 'Baltistan' (with the Persian suffix '-stan').
Initially, the source word meant 'bucket' or 'pail', but in English it evolved to refer primarily to the style of curry cooked and served in a bucket-like pan; the ethnonym sense refers to people or language of Baltistan and is historically distinct.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of South Asian-style curry, popular in the UK, typically cooked and served in a thin, pressed-steel wok-like pan called a balti.
We ordered a balti for dinner.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a member of the Balti people, an ethnic group from the Baltistan region (or the Balti language they speak).
Several balti communities live in the northern valleys.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the Balti people, the Balti language, or Baltistan (e.g., balti culture, balti music).
She studies balti music and traditions.
Last updated: 2026/01/08 11:20