cumin

Meaning

Noun

• The flowering plant Cuminum cyminum, in the family Apiaceae.
• Its aromatic long seed, used as a spice, notably in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cookery.

Origin

• From Middle English comyn, from Old English cymen (which is cognate with Old High German kumin) and Old French cummin, both from Latin cuminum, from Ancient Greek κύμινον, a Semitic borrowing ultimately to be traced to Akkadian 𒂵𒈬𒉡.. Possibly related to caraway.