quinoa
Meaning
the small seeds of a south american plant, used as food
the tall south american plant that produces these seeds
Usage
quinoa is prized for its high protein content and is a popular gluten-free grain alternative.
she prepared a salad with roasted vegetables, feta cheese, and cooked quinoa.
the cultivation of quinoa has expanded beyond south america to meet growing international demand.
Etymology
the word quinoa entered the english language via spanish, which adopted it from the quechua word 'kinwa'. quechua is an indigenous language family of the andes, spoken by the inca civilization. the term refers specifically to the chenopodium quinoa plant, a staple grain crop cultivated in the andean region for thousands of years. its journey into global english vocabulary is a direct result of cultural and culinary exchange, with the word itself remaining largely unchanged from its original form, reflecting its status as a specific loanword for a new commodity.
Analysis
this is a loanword adopted as a simplex unit from spanish, which itself borrowed it from quechua (kinwa). it does not contain segmentable english or classical morphemes.