pupun.
/ˈpuːˌpuː/, U.S. /ˈpuˌpu/ Originally and chiefly U.S. regional (Hawaii).
In Hawaiian cuisine: a small savoury dish served as an appetizer.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > hors d'oeuvres dishes > [noun]
smorgasbord1879
zakuska1885
cocktail1896
meze1904
party mix1925
pupu1950
tapénade1952
tapas1953
relish1954
pincho1966
1950 Los Angeles Times 25 June iii. 4/2 Pupu—(hors d'oeuvres).
1974 Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Press 15 July 11/5 Aloha cocktails and pu pu will be served at 7 p.m. followed by an ‘exotic luau’.
1991 D. Lodge Paradise News ii. i. 200 In the spirit of traditional Hawaiian hospitality, Travelwise Tours..invites you to cocktails and pupu at 6 p.m.
2003 J. Sprout Hawaii 244 Whether you hunger for pupus or a full-on luau, you can end the quest at one of these Big Island winners.
Compounds
pupu platter n. an assortment of pupus or appetizers, typically served hot; also in extended use.
ΚΠ
1960 N.Y. Times 25 Feb. 30 (advt.) Special Sunday Luau Dinner. Start with the famous Pu Pu Platter (consisting of 6 Hawaiian delicacies).
1970 R. Schindler & G. Schindler Hawaiian Cookbk. (1981) iii. 25 Served as an appetizer or on a hot buffet table, the many-flavored, colorful puu puu platter is your best way to say ‘Aloha!’.
1985 Adweek (U.S.) (Nexis) 13 May After tourism, Hawaiian agencies' client pupu platter is woefully bare.
1991 J. Solomon Taste of Tropics (2003) 6 A pupu platter often is an international smorgasbord of Japanese, Korean, Thai, Hawaiian, and Polynesian delicacies.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1950