cabbage
UK[ˈkæbɪdʒ]US[ˈkæbɪdʒ]
n
A large round vegetable with thick green or purple leaves that are eaten cooked or raw.
Etymology
The word 'cabbage' entered English from the Middle French 'caboche', meaning "head," which itself derived from the Latin 'caput', also meaning "head." This etymological journey is a clear reflection of the vegetable's round, head-like shape. The term passed through various forms in Old French and Anglo-Norman before settling into its modern English spelling. The semantic logic is straightforward: the vegetable is named for its physical resemblance to a human head.
Analysis
The word 'cabbage' is a loanword where the modern English spelling does not transparently reflect separable Latin or Greek morphemes. It is treated as a simplex unit in contemporary English.
Examples
She made a fresh coleslaw with shredded cabbage and carrots.
The recipe calls for one small cabbage, finely chopped.
He grows several varieties of cabbage in his garden.