yam
- the starchy, tuberous root of any of various climbing vines of the genus Dioscorea, cultivated for food in warm regions.
- any of these plants.
- the sweet potato.
- Scot. potato(def 1).
Origin of yam
Related Words for yam
yam, spud, tuber, plant, murphy, tater, beet, potato, bulb, root, taro, turnip, jalap, salepExamples from the Web for yam
Contemporary Examples of yam
The sorbet was tangy and was a tad tart while in the main course the pepper in the yam croquette brought it to life.
Historical Examples of yam
It will be a great improvement to cut up a yam and boil it in the soup.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
However, the yam may prove a valuable acquisition to the country.
Farm drainageHenry Flagg French
The Chinese yam, recently introduced, grows downward two or three feet.
Farm drainageHenry Flagg French
The yam is the root of a climbing plant which David called the Dioscoreo-sativa.
In the Wilds of AfricaW.H.G. Kingston
At last I had but a pint of water remaining and only a yam or two.
Norman ValleryW.H.G. Kingston
yam
- any of various twining plants of the genus Dioscorea, of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for their edible tubers: family Dioscoreaceae
- the starchy tuber of any of these plants, which is eaten as a vegetable
- Southern US any of certain large varieties of sweet potato
- a former Scot name for the (common) potato
Word Origin for yam
Word Origin and History for yam
1580s, from Portuguese inhame or Spanish igname, from a West African language (cf. Fulani nyami "to eat;" Twi anyinam "species of yam"); the word in American and Jamaican English probably is directly from West African sources.