Broccoli
/ˈbrɒk.əli/noun
A green vegetable that resembles a small tree, commonly eaten as a food source.
Did you know?Broccoli is derived from the Latin 'broccus', which means 'the flowering top of a cabbage' — a nod to its ancient Roman roots in agriculture and fertility.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
broccus
“a projection or a sprout, often referring to the flowering top of certain plants.”
14th Century
Italian
broccolo
“the flowering top of a cabbage.”
16th Century
Italian
broccolo
“the shoot or sprout of a plant, particularly referring to the edible flower buds.”
Modern English
English
broccoli
“the cultivated variety of a plant in the cabbage family, specifically bred for its edible flower buds.”
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