Informal term for vegetable or a person who follows a vegetarian diet.
Shortened form of 'vegetable,' which comes from Latin 'vegetabilis' meaning 'animating, enlivening,' from 'vegetare' (to enliven, animate). The colloquial abbreviation 'veggie' emerged in the mid-20th century as casual food terminology became more common.
The transformation from the formal Latin 'vegetabilis' to the playful 'veggie' reflects how language evolves to become more approachable - the original meaning 'to enliven' is ironic given that we use it for non-animal food sources. The double meaning as both food item and dietary lifestyle choice shows how shortened words often expand their semantic range.
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