rampion

American  

[ram-pee-uhn] / ˈræm pi ən /

noun

1. a European bellflower, Campanula rapunculus, of the bellflower family, having an edible white tuberous root used in Europe for salad.

2. any related plant of the genus Phyteuma, having heads or spikes of blue flowers.

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rampion British  

/ ˈræmpɪən /

noun

1. a campanulaceous plant, Campanula rapunculus , native to Europe and Asia, that has clusters of bluish flowers and an edible white tuberous root used in salads

2. any of several plants of the related genus Phyteuma that are native to Europe and Asia and have heads of blue flowers

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Etymology

Origin of rampion

First recorded in 1565–75; probably alteration of Middle French raiponce, from Italian raponzo, derivative of rapa “turnip”; see origin at rape ²)

Example Sentences

The man, who loved her very much, thought to himself, "Rather than lose my wife I will get some rampion, cost what it will."

From Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm by Crane, Lucy

One day the woman stood at the window overlooking the garden, and saw there a bed full of the finest rampion: the leaves looked so fresh and green that she longed to eat them.

From The Red Fairy Book by Lang, Andrew

So in the twilight he climbed over the wall into the witch's garden, plucked hastily a handful of rampion and brought it to his wife.

From Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm by Crane, Lucy

"Oh," answered she, "I shall die unless I can have some of that rampion to eat that grows in the garden at the back of our house."

From Household Stories by the Brothers Grimm by Crane, Lucy

How can't thou dare," said she with angry look, "to descend into my garden and steal my rampion like a thief?

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 05 Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English by Various