Purslane
/ˈpɜːrsleɪn/noun
A succulent edible herb, usually Portulaca oleracea, with fleshy leaves and small flowers.
Did you know?The “chicken’s foot” explanation comes from Latin pulli pes, but scholars caution that purslane’s exact medieval development is uncertain and may involve folk reshaping of an older plant name.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
portulaca
“Purslane; the traditional Latin plant name, whose deeper origin is uncertain.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pulli pes
““Chick’s foot” or “chicken’s foot,” a proposed reinterpretation associated with the plant’s appearance.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
porcilaca
“A medieval form connected with purslane in later Romance-language development.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
porcelaine
“Purslane; the Old French form from which English and related European plant names developed.”
14th Century
Middle English
purslane
“The edible succulent herb; the English form recorded in medieval texts.”
Modern English
English
purslane
“A leafy succulent eaten as a vegetable and used in salads and traditional herbal practice.”
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