Chinese Broccoli
/ˌtʃaɪˈniːz ˈbrɑːkəli/noun
A leafy vegetable with thick stems, small flowering shoots, and a flavor similar to broccoli.
Did you know?Chinese broccoli is commonly called gai lan or kai-lan in Cantonese, and despite its name, it is a distinct cultivated form of the same species as cabbage, kale, and broccoli.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhreg-
“To break, fracture, or project outward; a proposed ancestral root connected with pointed or jutting forms.”
Classical Latin
Latin
broccus
“Projecting, prominent, or having a jutting feature.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
broccus
“A shoot or projecting growth; the source associated with later Italian vegetable terminology.”
16th Century
Italian
broccolo
“A cabbage sprout or flowering shoot; the singular form behind English broccoli.”
17th Century
English
broccoli
“A vegetable name borrowed from Italian, originally referring to sprouts or shoots.”
19th–20th Century
English
Chinese broccoli
“The English name for the Asian leafy vegetable also known as gai lan, distinguished by its thick stems and flower shoots.”