cucumber
UK[ˈkjuːkʌmbə]US[ˈkjuːˌkʌmbər]
n
a long, green vegetable with dark green skin, usually eaten raw in salads
Etymology
the word "cucumber" entered english in the late 14th century from the old french "cocombre." its journey traces back to the latin "cucumis, cucumer-." scholars believe the latin term may have a pre-latin, possibly mediterranean, substrate origin, making its deeper roots obscure. the vegetable was known in ancient rome and was cultivated in many parts of europe, with the name being adopted into various languages with little change to its core sound structure. the modern english spelling solidified around the 16th century, standardizing the form we use today for this common garden vegetable.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a simplex unit. its components within english spelling do not correspond to independent, meaningful morphemes in modern english.
Examples
she added slices of fresh cucumber to the salad for a crisp texture.
he placed cool cucumber slices over his eyes to reduce puffiness.
the classic british sandwich often contains thin slices of cucumber with butter.