spinach

spinach
noun Etymology: Middle English spinache, from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French espinaces, from Medieval Latin spinachium, ultimately from Arabic isfānākh, from Persian Date: 15th century 1. an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the goosefoot family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basal rosette; also its leaves 2. a. something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious b. an untidy overgrowth • spinachlike adjectivespinachy adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Spinach — Spin ach, Spinage Spin age, n. [OF. espinache, espinoche, F. [ e]pinard; cf. F. spinace, Sp. espinaca; all fr. Ar. isf[=a]n[=a]j, isfin[=a]j, aspan[=a]kh, probably of Persian origin.] (Bot.) A common pot herb ({Spinacia oleracea}) belonging to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spinach — c.1400, from Anglo Fr. spinache, O.Fr. espinache (Mod.Fr. épinard), from O.Prov. espinarc, which perhaps is via Catalan espinac, from Andalusian Arabic isbinakh, from Arabic isbanakh, from Pers. aspanakh spinach. But OED is not convinced the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • spinach — The recommended pronunciation is spin ij, but spin ich is usual in AmE and also occurs in BrE …   Modern English usage

  • spinach — ► NOUN ▪ a plant with large dark green leaves which are eaten as a vegetable. ORIGIN probably from Old French espinache, from Persian …   English terms dictionary

  • spinach — [spin′ich] n. [< MFr espinach < (? via ML spinachia) OSp espinaca < Ar isbānakh < Pers aspanākh] 1. a plant (Spinacia oleracea) of the goosefoot family, with large, dark green, juicy, edible leaves, usually eaten cooked 2. the leaves… …   English World dictionary

  • Spinach — Taxobox name = Spinach image width = 270px image caption = Spinach in flower regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Caryophyllales familia = Amaranthaceae, formerly Chenopodiaceae [http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=1997 …   Wikipedia

  • spinach — spinachlike, adj. /spin ich/, n. 1. a plant, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its edible, crinkly or flat leaves. 2. the leaves. [1520 30; < MF espinache, espinage < OSp espinaca, alter. of Ar isfanakh, perh. < Pers] * * * Hardy, leafy annual… …   Universalium

  • spinach — /ˈspɪnɪtʃ / (say spinich) noun 1. Also, English spinach. an annual herb, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its succulent leaves. 2. Also, US, Swiss chard. a form of beet, Beta vulgaris cicla, with large, firm, strongly veined green leaves and a… …  

  • spinach — [16] The ultimate origin of the word spinach is Persian aspanākh, which passed via Arabic isfināj, medieval Latin spinachia, and Spanish espinaca into Old French as espinache. Middle Dutch borrowed this as spinaetse, the probable source of… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • spinach — [16] The ultimate origin of the word spinach is Persian aspanākh, which passed via Arabic isfināj, medieval Latin spinachia, and Spanish espinaca into Old French as espinache. Middle Dutch borrowed this as spinaetse, the probable source of… …   Word origins

  • spinach — n. money. (Because it is green. See also cabbage; lettuce.) □ How much spinach you got on you? □ Look at this! One hundred dollars in good old American spinach! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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