sushi

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 寿司(すし) (sushi, “sushi (sour rice)”), ultimately from archaic conjugation 酸(す)し (sushi, “sour, vinegared”) of modern adjective 酸(す)い (sui, “sour, vinegared”).

noun

1. A Japanese dish made of small portions of sticky white rice flavored with vinegar, usually wrapped in seaweed and filled or topped with fish, vegetables or meat.
   For the vegetarians, she served cucumber sushi.
   I lived in New York all my life. We used to have Chinese restaurants, ltalian restaurants. Now you have these sushi restaurants. Everyone goes for sushi. Sushi—I hate the stuff. Although, I tell you, I had some the other day. I took it home, I cooked it, it wasn't bad. It tasted like fish. 1985, Leora Barish, Desperately Seeking Susan, spoken by Taxi Driver
2. (proscribed) Raw fish, especially as a Japanese dish.
   'Can't eat sushi?' I said. Then Mom said, 'You can't eat uncooked fish when you're pregnant' as if I'm the one stupid enough to go and get pregnant! 2012, Alison Acheson, Molly's Cue, page 26

verb

1. (transitive, informal) To prepare (a food) as sushi.
   Our finned friends come in all varieties: sushi-ed, fresh, smoked and otherwise packaged for your consumption. 2017, Korina Miller, Kate Armstrong, Lonely Planet Canada