Lentil
/ˈlɛntɪl/noun
A small, round, edible seed that is a staple food in many cultures.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, lentils were considered a food of the dead, often used in funerary rites to honor ancestors and ensure safe passage to the afterlife.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lens
“a lentil or lens-shaped seed”
Latin
Latin
lens
“lentil, a legume known for its flat, round shape”
Old French
Old French
lentille
“a small seed or pulse, derived from Latin”
Middle English
Middle English
lentil
“a type of seed or pulse, borrowed from Old French”
Modern English
English
lentil
“the same small, round edible seed, now widely used in cooking”