parsnip English · revision 1492

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1373}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɑː.snɪp/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɑɹ.snɪp/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|pasnepe]], [[m|enm|passenep]], with an altered form,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|fro|pasnaie|t=parsnip]] (modern [[fr|panais]]),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|pastināca|t=parsnip, carrot]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[m|la|pastinum|t=two-pronged dibble]], related to [[m|la|pastināre|t=to dig up the ground]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) The ending was altered after Middle English [[m|enm|nepe|t=turnip]] (see [[neep]]),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) because the parsnip was thought of as a kind of turnip.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The plant ''Pastinaca sativa'', cultivated for its edible root (1373 in Barnhart, as ''pasnepe''; 1398 in the OED; late 14th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline says the plant was named from the shape of its root.^(Etymonline) The Old French word could also mean the male member.^(Etymonline) The ''r'' first appears in ''persenepe'' (before 1500) and ''parsnepe'' (1533).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986) The proverb ''fine words butter no parsnips'', meaning that fine talk accomplishes nothing, is recorded by 1639.^(OED 1989)^(Weekley 1921) The name was also applied, with qualifying words, to related plants such as the cow parsnip (1562).^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1373 – ''pasnepe''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1500 – ''persenepe''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1533 – ''parsnepe''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1562 – applied to related plants.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1639 – ''fair words butter no parsnips''.^(Weekley 1921)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A strong-scented plant of the [[carrot]] family, ''Pastinaca sativa'', cultivated for its long, whitish, edible root.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The root of this plant, eaten as a [[vegetable]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of several similar plants, such as the cow parsnip.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[meadow parsnip]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[neep]]

+ * [[turnip]]

+ * [[carrot]]

+ * [[pastinaca]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}