tapas

Etymology 1

From Spanish tapas, the plural of tapa (“appetizer, tapa; cap, lid (cover of a container)”) (from the fact that plates of tapas were originally placed on the tops of glasses of alcoholic beverages as lids), from Gothic *𐍄𐌰𐍀𐍀𐌰 (*tappa), from Proto-Germanic *tappô (“plug; tap”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂p- (“to lose; to sacrifice”). Doublet of tap.

noun

1. A variety of Spanish small savoury food items or snacks such as croquettes, cured meat, potato salad, and seafood, originally served with sherry and now often with other alcoholic beverages as well.
   The Spanish restaurant’s tapas is so tasty.
   Tapas are so tasty.
   The snacks are called tapas because in the old days a piece of toast was served, too, so that you might have a "top" on your glass of sherry, a lid that would prevent the flies from getting into the glass. 1986, Jeff Smith, “The Tapas Buffet (Spain)”, in The Frugal Gourmet Cooks with Wine, New York, N.Y.: William Morrow and Company, page 88
   Most food scholars agree that the tapas tradition originated in the wine-growing regions of Andalusia, eventually spreading throughout the country. The Moors (Muslim Arabs), who dominated Spain from the beginning of the eighth century until the end of the fifteenth century, settled in the same area, and their meze tradition undoubtedly had an influence on the rise of the tapa. 2013, Joyce Goldstein, “Introduction”, in Tapas: Sensational Small Plates from Spain, San Francisco, Calif.: Chronicle Books, page 8

Etymology 2

From Sanskrit तप् (tap, “heat; to be hot”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *tep- (“to be warm or hot”). Related to tepid.

noun

1. (Hinduism, Jainism) (The practice of) asceticism and self-discipline.

Etymology 3

noun

1. plural of tapa