broccoli

Meaning

Noun

• A plant, Brassica oleracea var. italica (variety), of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae; especially, the tree-shaped flower and stalk that are eaten as a vegetable.
• Marijuana.

Origin

• 1699, Italian broccoli, plural of broccolo, diminutive of brocco (which is also the origin of brocade), from Latin broccus ("pointed, sharp, projecting; buck-toothed"), possibly of Gaulish origin, related to Proto-Celtic *brokkos ("badger") or Proto-Celtic *brozdos ("tip, point") (compare Scottish Gaelic brog ("pointed instrument, awl"), Welsh procio ("thrust, poke"), Old English brord ("point, spike")). More at brochure, brad.