Carob
/ˈkær.əb/noun
A Mediterranean evergreen tree whose long pods are used as food, fodder, and a chocolate substitute.
Did you know?Carob’s name passed through Arabic and medieval Romance trade routes, showing how a humble food word can travel like a spell hidden in commerce.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kerátion
“a small horn; later, the carob pod, from its horn-like shape”
Late Latin
Latin
carrubium / carubia
“carob tree or pod, borrowed from Greek through Mediterranean usage”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
kharrūb
“carob, the pod and tree”
Old French
Old French
carobe
“carob; the pod of the carob tree”
Modern English
English
carob
“the carob tree or its edible pod”