Caraway
/ˈkær.ə.weɪ/noun
A biennial herb of the parsley family whose seeds are used as a spice.
Did you know?Caraway’s English name comes through medieval trade channels from Arabic and Greek forms ultimately tied to the spice’s ancient Mediterranean journey, showing how a kitchen word can preserve the history of empire and commerce.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
káron
“A kind of spice or caraway-like seed”
Medieval Latin
Latin
carui
“Caraway”
Old Italian
Italian
carvi
“Caraway”
Late Middle English
English
caraway
“Caraway seed or plant”
Modern English
English
caraway
“The aromatic herb and its seed used in cooking”