chicory
UK[ˈtʃɪkəri]US[ˈtʃɪkəri]
n
a blue-flowered plant with leaves that can be eaten in salads.
n
the root of this plant, which can be dried, ground, and mixed with or used instead of coffee.
Etymology
the word "chicory" has a long journey through mediterranean languages, ultimately reflecting its ancient cultivation. it entered middle english as "cicoree" from old french, which borrowed it from latin "cichorium." latin, in turn, adopted it from greek "kikhora." the greek term is believed to be a loan from egyptian, indicating the plant's early use in the nile region. the path of the word, largely unchanged in its core syllables, mirrors the spread of the plant itself from its north african and middle eastern origins into european gardens and kitchens, where its leaves and roots became valued as food and a coffee substitute.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it entered english as a whole unit from french, with earlier forms traceable through latin and greek to a probable egyptian source.
Examples
the salad was garnished with fresh, slightly bitter chicory.
during the war, people often used roasted chicory as a coffee extender.
the field was dotted with the bright blue flowers of wild chicory.