Rapunzel
/ˌræpənˈzɛl/noun
A plant of the bellflower family, especially rampion, and the heroine of a German fairy tale associated with it.
Did you know?In the Grimm tale, Rapunzel’s mother craves the plant growing in a sorceress’s garden, and the plant’s name ultimately comes from Latin for a small turnip-like root.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
rapa
“Turnip or similar root vegetable”
Classical Latin
Latin
rapunculus
“A little turnip; also the small-rooted rampion plant”
Medieval Latin
Latin
rapunculus
“Rampion, a plant with an edible root and leaves”
16th Century
German
Rapunzel
“Rampion or related edible green, used as a plant name”
1812
German
Rapunzel
“The heroine and plant in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale”
Modern English
English
Rapunzel
“The fairy-tale heroine, and sometimes the rampion plant”