Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Spinach — Spin ach, Spinage Spin age, n. [OF. espinache, espinoche, F. [ e]pinard; cf. F. spinace, Sp. espinaca; all fr. Ar. isf[=a]n[=a]j, isfin[=a]j, aspan[=a]kh, probably of Persian origin.] (Bot.) A common pot herb ({Spinacia oleracea}) belonging to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
spinach — c.1400, from Anglo Fr. spinache, O.Fr. espinache (Mod.Fr. épinard), from O.Prov. espinarc, which perhaps is via Catalan espinac, from Andalusian Arabic isbinakh, from Arabic isbanakh, from Pers. aspanakh spinach. But OED is not convinced the… … Etymology dictionary
spinach — The recommended pronunciation is spin ij, but spin ich is usual in AmE and also occurs in BrE … Modern English usage
spinach — ► NOUN ▪ a plant with large dark green leaves which are eaten as a vegetable. ORIGIN probably from Old French espinache, from Persian … English terms dictionary
spinach — [spin′ich] n. [< MFr espinach < (? via ML spinachia) OSp espinaca < Ar isbānakh < Pers aspanākh] 1. a plant (Spinacia oleracea) of the goosefoot family, with large, dark green, juicy, edible leaves, usually eaten cooked 2. the leaves… … English World dictionary
Spinach — Taxobox name = Spinach image width = 270px image caption = Spinach in flower regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Caryophyllales familia = Amaranthaceae, formerly Chenopodiaceae [http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=1997 … Wikipedia
spinach — spinachlike, adj. /spin ich/, n. 1. a plant, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its edible, crinkly or flat leaves. 2. the leaves. [1520 30; < MF espinache, espinage < OSp espinaca, alter. of Ar isfanakh, perh. < Pers] * * * Hardy, leafy annual… … Universalium
spinach — /ˈspɪnɪtʃ / (say spinich) noun 1. Also, English spinach. an annual herb, Spinacia oleracea, cultivated for its succulent leaves. 2. Also, US, Swiss chard. a form of beet, Beta vulgaris cicla, with large, firm, strongly veined green leaves and a… …
spinach — [16] The ultimate origin of the word spinach is Persian aspanākh, which passed via Arabic isfināj, medieval Latin spinachia, and Spanish espinaca into Old French as espinache. Middle Dutch borrowed this as spinaetse, the probable source of… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
spinach — n. money. (Because it is green. See also cabbage; lettuce.) □ How much spinach you got on you? □ Look at this! One hundred dollars in good old American spinach! … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
