Which soup's name comes from Tamil words meaning pepper water?

The soup whose name comes from Tamil words meaning “pepper water” is mulligatawny.

The name derives from Tamil milagu, meaning black pepper, and thanneer, meaning water. Mulligatawny began as a soup related to rasam in Tamil cuisine, but it changed substantially when it was adopted into Anglo-Indian cooking during the period of British rule.

By the late 18th century, the soup was known in India, and English-language references appeared by 1784. Nineteenth-century British cooks adapted it in many ways, often adding chicken or mutton, fried onion and a larger assortment of spices. Southern Indian versions commonly included lentils, while British versions could be richer and more meat-focused.

Mulligatawny is therefore not one rigid recipe. Its ingredients vary widely, and the name can describe several related preparations. It is also often compared with rasam, its South Indian relative, but the Anglo-Indian soup’s later additions and variations distinguish it from the simpler pepper-water tradition.