English received chocolate through Mexican Spanish. At first, it usually named a drink; the familiar solid confection became a later sense. Its earlier Mesoamerican history is more complicated than a neat, confidently translated two-word formula.
The exact earlier formation is debated. The popular “bitter water” explanation is not treated here as established fact.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster · chocolate
Dictionary word history; the component and historical references below supply additional detail.
- Online Etymology Dictionary · chocolate
Historical forms, meanings, and context for the route described here.