artichoke
UK[ˈɑː.tɪ.tʃəʊk]US[ˈɑːr.t̬ɪ.tʃoʊk]
n
a tall, thistle-like plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its large edible flower head.
n
the unopened flower head of this plant, eaten as a vegetable.
Etymology
the word 'artichoke' has a convoluted etymological journey, beginning with the arabic term 'al-ḵaršūf' (الخرشوف), meaning "artichoke." this passed into spanish as 'alcarchofa' and into northern italian dialects, where it was transformed by folk etymology. the italian form 'articiocco' was influenced by existing words like 'artico' ("artic," suggesting something with joints) and 'ciocco' ("stump"). from italian, it entered french as 'artichaut' and finally english as 'artichoke,' where the final element was further altered by association with the word 'choke.' the modern spelling thus obscures its arabic origins, reflecting a series of phonetic adaptations and reinterpretations.
Analysis
the word 'artichoke' is a loanword whose spelling and form have been heavily altered through transmission across languages. it does not contain separable, meaningful morphemes in modern english.
Examples
she steamed the artichoke and served it with a lemon-butter dip.
the artichoke is a perennial plant native to the mediterranean region.
peeling the leaves to get to the artichoke heart requires a bit of patience.