garlic
UK[ˈɡɑːlɪk]US[ˈɡɑːrlɪk]
n
A plant of the onion family with a strong taste and smell, used in cooking. Its bulb is made up of small sections called cloves.
Etymology
The word garlic has a straightforward yet vivid history. It entered English from Old English gārlēac, a compound literally meaning "spear-leek," a reference to the shape of its cloves. The first element, gār, meaning "spear," is of Proto-Germanic origin and is related to the modern word "gore." The second element, lēac, meaning "leek" or "herb," is the source of the modern word "leek" and appears in other plant names like "hemlock." Over time, the original compound fused into a single, unanalyzable lexical unit, losing its transparent "spear" association while retaining its essential reference to the pungent bulb used universally as a seasoning and folk remedy.
Analysis
The word is a simplex. It originates from Old English gārlēac, a compound of gār (spear) and lēac (leek, plant). However, in its modern English spelling and morphological structure, it is not productively divisible into separate, meaningful morphemes.
Examples
The recipe calls for two cloves of crushed garlic.
The aroma of sautéing garlic filled the kitchen.
Some people take garlic supplements for their potential health benefits.