A leafy green vegetable with crisp leaves, often used in salads and sandwiches. Different kinds of lettuce can be soft, crunchy, or bitter.
From Old French *laitue* and Latin *lactuca*, from *lac* (milk), because the plant releases a milky juice when cut. The original Latin name referred to this white sap.
Lettuce’s name is secretly about milk, not leaves—early people noticed the milky sap more than the salad. Even today, cutting some lettuces releases a white liquid that connects your lunch to its ancient Latin name.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.