clove
UK[kləʊv]US[kloʊv]
n
The dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a pungent, aromatic spice.
n
One of the small sections that a compound bulb, such as garlic, can be naturally divided into.
Etymology
The word "clove" has a dual origin that converged on the same spelling. The spice name comes from the Old French "clou (de girofle)", meaning "nail (of clove)", from Latin "clavus" (nail), due to the bud's shape resembling a small nail. This Latin term traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root klāw-, meaning "a peg, nail, or hook". Separately, the word for a segment of garlic derives from the Old English verb "clēofan", meaning "to split, cleave", from the Proto-Germanic kleubaną and ultimately the PIE root gleubh- ("to cut, slice"). The modern spelling "clove" for both emerged from Middle English, where the distinct forms "clowe" (spice) and "clof" (garlic segment) merged, creating a homograph where one meaning is based on visual resemblance (a nail) and the other on an action (splitting).
Analysis
The modern English word "clove" for the spice and the garlic segment is a simplex word derived from a single historical root. Its spelling and form do not allow for segmentation into productive morphemes in modern English.
Examples
She added a few whole cloves to the mulled wine for a warm, spicy flavor.
Crush a clove of garlic before adding it to the pan.
The aroma of cloves and cinnamon filled the kitchen during the holidays.