malanga
UK[məˈlæŋɡə]US[məˈlɑːŋɡə]
n
a tropical plant (genus Xanthosoma, especially X. sagittifolium) cultivated for its edible starchy tuber.
n
the large, edible tuber of this plant, cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
Etymology
the word 'malanga' entered english from spanish, where it refers to the edible aroid plant. the spanish term itself is believed to be borrowed from a native language of the caribbean or tropical america, likely from the taino language. it is a classic example of a loanword that traveled with the plant from its new world origins into european languages and global cuisine. the term carries no compositional meaning from classical roots but instead directly names the specific plant and its tuber.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword; it cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller morphemes within the english language system.
Examples
the market vendor sold yams, cassava, and malanga.
malanga is often used to make a thick, hearty soup.
the leaves of the malanga plant are also sometimes cooked and eaten.