turmeric

Meaning

Noun

• An Indian plant, Curcuma longa, with aromatic rhizomes, part of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
• The pulverized rhizome of the turmeric plant, used for flavoring and to add a bright yellow color to food.
• A yellow to reddish-brown dye extracted from the turmeric plant.

Origin

• From Middle English turmeryte, tarmaret, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Old French terre mérite. According to Klein, possibly corrupted from Arabic كُرْكُم ("Curcuma").