Laddu comes from the Sanskrit word transliterated as ladduka or lattika meaning a small ball. One of the earliest mentions of laddu is in a twelfth-century Gujarati manuscript.

One of the most recent mentions of Laddu happened 2 seconds ago in some Guju house where a small fat child is being scolded for eating too much food.

Laddu is consumed in large quantities at major life events such as weddings, births etc. and also given out as prasad at Hindu temples.

The word used to describe a small child (toddler or baby) who is chubby and cute. (In addition of course to being the name given to the sweet edible thing.)