tandoor

Etymology

From Hindustani तन्दूर (tandūr) / تندور (tandūr), from Classical Persian تنور (tannūr), from Middle Persian [script needed] (tnwl /⁠tanūr⁠/, “oven”), ultimately from Akkadian 𒋾𒂟 (tinūru), all meaning (clay) oven. According to the Dehkhoda Dictionary, the Akkadian word consists of the parts ṭīn meaning "mud" and nuro/nura meaning "fire" and is mentioned as early as in the Akkadian Epic of Gilgamesh, cf. also Avestan tanûra and Pahlavi tanûr. Doublet of athanor.

noun

1. A cylindrical clay oven used, in the cuisine of the Caucasus, Middle East, and Indian subcontinent, to make flat bread, or to cook meat.
   You can cook naan in a normal oven, but the results will inevitably disappoint; even Indians generally wait to savour them in restaurants, as very few homes are equipped with a tandoor. 2001, Martin Hughes, World Food: India, Lonely Planet, page 53