Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris Do "vegetables" technically exist? | FOOD WORDS
Jul 31, 2024
Dive into the delicious world of food etymology! Discover how 'dinner' and 'lunch' evolved through history and social class. Uncover the surprising transformation of 'meat' from a general food term to something more specific. Challenge your perceptions with the debate on whether 'vegetables' even exist. Enjoy quirky tales about food words, including the eye-opening meaning behind 'vanilla.' Get ready for a flavorful exploration of language and culinary traditions!
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Vegetable Originally Meant 'Capable Of Life'
- 'Vegetable' originally meant 'capable of life' from Latin vegetare, not a strict botanical category.
- Technically humans qualify as 'vegetables' under that original sense.
Avocado's Rude Nahuatl Origin
- 'Avocado' comes from a Nahuatl word meaning 'testicle' and was adapted via Spanish.
- 'Guacamole' shares the same Nahuatl root and originally meant avocado sauce.
Pineapple Was Once A Pine Cone
- English 'pineapple' originally named pine cones and later the fruit because it resembled a pine cone.
- Most other languages use 'ananas' from the indigenous American term.