fenugreek

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁(y)-der. Latin foenum Ancient Greek Γραικός (Graikós)bor. Latin graecus Latin foenum-graecum Old French fenigrecbor. Middle English fenygreke English fenugreek Inherited from Middle English fenygreke, borrowed from Old French fenigrec, from Latin foenum-graecum (literally “Greek hay”), from foenum (“hay”, variant of faenum) + graecus (“Greek”).

1. Any of the species leguminous plant, Trigonella foenum-graecum, eaten as a vegetable and with seeds used as a spice.

   “Fenugreek plant was introduced to Central Europe by Benedictine monks, and it is promoted in the 9th century by Charlemagne. It was grown extensively in the imperial gardens of Charlemagne (Popova, 2017).”

2. The seeds of this plant, used as a spice (especially in Indian and Thai cooking).

   “Fenugreek’s nutritional and tonic properties have also been tapped since ancient times. […] Fenugreek-based preparations stimulate the appetite and promote weight gain in people with anemia, anorexia, tuberculosis or asthenia.”