Zucchini

/zuːˈkiːni/ noun

Definition

Zucchini is a long, green summer squash with soft skin that is usually cooked before eating. It can be grilled, fried, baked, or added to soups and stews.

Etymology

“Zucchini” comes from Italian, where it is the plural of “zucchino,” a small squash, from “zucca,” meaning “gourd” or “squash.” The word spread into English along with Italian cooking.

Kelly Says

In British English, the same vegetable is often called a “courgette,” from French, so one food carries two foreign-sounding names. Both mean basically “little squash,” showing how often we borrow not just foods, but their pet names too.

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