Cucumber
/ˈkjuː.kʌm.bər/noun
A long, green-skinned fruit used as a vegetable in salads and dishes.
Did you know?The word 'cucumber' is derived from the Latin 'cucumis,' which was used in ancient Roman gardens for both culinary and medicinal purposes, believed to ward off evil spirits.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeh₁u-
“to grow, to swell, to nourish.”
Latin
Latin
cucumis
“a type of gourd or melon, often used in salads.”
Old French
Old French
cucumbre
“the cultivated plant, borrowed from Latin.”
Middle English
Middle English
cucumer
“the term for the vegetable, directly from Old French.”
Modern English
English
cucumber
“the familiar long, green-skinned fruit used for consumption.”
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