Indian Potato
/ˌɪn.di.ən pəˈteɪ.toʊ/noun
A common name for several edible underground tubers, especially the North American groundnut, Apios americana.
Did you know?Indian potato commonly refers to Apios americana, a nitrogen-fixing vine whose edible tubers were cultivated and eaten by Indigenous peoples of North America.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sindhu-
“A river or body of water; the ancient root behind names associated with the Indus region.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
sindhu
“River, especially the Indus River; the source of the geographic name India.”
16th Century
Spanish
patata
“Potato; a blend influenced by Taíno batata, “sweet potato,” and Quechua papa, “potato.””
17th Century
English
potato
“The cultivated tuber introduced to Europe from the Americas.”
18th–19th Century
English
Indian potato
“A common name applied to Indigenous North American tubers, particularly Apios americana, despite its not being a true potato.”
Modern English
English
Indian potato
“A regional common name for edible underground tubers, especially the groundnut or potato bean.”