The Spanish word that can mean “plug” or “wad” and also names a folded tortilla filled with food is taco.
In Mexican Spanish, taco has several meanings, including a wedge, wad, plug, short piece of wood, and billiard cue. The food sense refers to a small corn- or wheat-based tortilla folded around a filling. Its exact culinary etymology is debated: one theory connects it with paper-and-gunpowder plugs used by Mexican silver miners, while another links it to the Nahuatl word tlahco, meaning “half” or “in the middle.”
Tacos are not the same as burritos, which are usually larger and fully rolled into a sealed cylinder. Tostadas are generally fried or toasted flat before toppings are added, while tacos may use a soft tortilla. Historical evidence also shows that “taco” became the dominant name in Mexico only gradually; some regions once used terms such as burrito, burro, or codzito for related foods.