tasca, n.
Brit. /ˈtɑskə/, U.S. /ˈtɑskə/
[Partly < Spanish tasca bar, tavern (1876–80, originally denoting an establishment of ill repute, especially a gambling den; < tascar to scutch flax, (of a grazing animal) to chew grass noisily, related to Portuguese tascar: further etymology unknown), and partly < Portuguese tasca bar, tavern (< tascar to scutch flax, to bite, to beat, thrash, etc., related to Spanish tascar: further etymology unknown).]
In Spain and Portugal: a tavern or wine bar, usually serving food, typically savoury snacks.
| 1957 Washington Post 2 June e10/1 They sit around in a tasca from 8 to maybe 11 eating tapas. 1979 Listener 1 Nov. 592/2, I found a decent, genuine, tourist-free tavern, or tasca—a stand-up bar where you nibble tapas. 1994 D. Porter Frommer's Comprehensive Trav. Guide '94–'95 vi. 112 Lisbon's budget restaurants, the tascas, proliferate here. 2000 World Food: Spain 34 Every bar, restaurant and tasca in the Kingdom of Spain has at least one ham a' carving at any given time. |