: a large bulging widemouthed earthenware vessel sometimes with looped handles used (as by Pueblo people) for storage, cooking, or as a container for water
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Consistent moisture from drip irrigation or an olla makes a big difference.—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 3 Mar. 2026 For example, her research into Southern California’s Kumeyaay and Cahuilla Indigenous tribes inspired a series of large jars patterned after ollas, traditional pots used for water and seed storage.—Leigh-Ann Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026 Like the ollas, Johnson does not recommend this method for water-sensitive plants, such as succulents.—Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2025 No longer are they made from clay ollas — used for hauling water or storing food — that would make a loud pop when cracked.—Susan Montoya Bryan, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023 Summer squash grows well with an olla or in a self-watering container.—Christopher Michel, Country Living, 18 July 2022 In the adjacent Victor Manuel market, make time for Willimapu restaurant, which serves Indigneous Mapuche specialties like curanto en olla, a one-pot feast of seafood and meat.—Patricia Garip, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 June 2022
Word History
Etymology
Spanish, from Latin olla, aulla pot; akin to Sanskrit ukhā pot and probably to Goth auhns oven