bolillo

[ buh-lee-oh; Spanish baw-lee-yaw ]

noun

, Mexican Cooking.

, plural bo·lil·los [b, uh, -, lee, -ohz, baw-, lee, -yaws].

1. a crusty hard roll with a soft center.
2. a sandwich made with this roll.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bolillo¹

First recorded in 1970–75; from Spanish, equivalent to boll(o) “bun, roll” (with gender change from Latin bulla “bubble, knob”; + -illo diminutive suffix; bola, boil ¹ )

Example Sentences

Ortiz said he frequently would stop by at Ruben’s Bakery on his way to work, where he would grab a bolillo and a cup of coffee.

From Los Angeles Times

Imagine opening up a steamy, golden bolillo and lying inside of it like a sleeping bag.

From Los Angeles Times

Imagine opening up a steamy, golden bolillo and lying inside of it like a sleeping bag.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's this carb overload, usually a breakfast food that's two tamales inside a bolillo, which is a big roll. It's kind of the same idea. Tamales and their utility for working people as food on the go, it's just cross-cultural."

From Salon

As I fried the bolillo slices and carefully stacked them inside a baking pan while sprinkling almonds and raisins, I thanked God for taking my mother before the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times