Word of the Day

Zinfandel, “a dry red wine,” is of uncertain origin, but there is one promising explanation. Perhaps through an intermediary such as Czech or Hungarian, the idea is that zinfandel is a corruption of Zierfandler, a variety of Austrian grape. Though the change from the original Zierfandler to zinfandel is a little unusual, there is a phonological basis for this; what remains mysterious is how zinfandel came to refer to a black grape used to make red wine when Zierfandler is a red grape used to make white wine. Zinfandel was first recorded in English in the late 1890s. EXAMPLE OF ZINFANDEL USED IN A SENTENCE As the dinner guests arrived, he broke open a bottle of zinfandel to welcome them to his home.

Succotash, “a cooked dish of corn and beans,” is adapted from msíckquatash, “boiled whole kernels of corn,” in Narragansett, which is an Algonquian language with roots in what is now Rhode Island. Narragansett and its close Algonquian relatives, including Massachusett and Maliseet, are the sources of many loanwords in American and Canadian English, such as mugwump, toboggan, and the Word of the Day wampum. Succotash was first recorded in English circa 1750. EXAMPLE OF SUCCOTASH USED IN A SENTENCE They loved going over to their grandmother's for dinner because she always served some variation of succotash.

Génoise, “a light yellow cake,” is the feminine form of French génois, “of Genoa.” Genoa, known as Gênes in French, Genova in Italian, and Zêna in the local Ligurian language, is a major city in northwestern Italy. The city’s name has multiple possible origins. The Latin name, oppidum Genua, may reflect a connection to genū, “knee,” or gena, “cheek,” perhaps because of its location in a corner of the Gulf of Genoa or near the mouth of an ancient waterway. However, in the Middle Ages, Genoa’s Latin name was changed to Janua, and this alternative may stem from Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and doorways, or the noun jānua, “door” (compare janitor and January). Génoise was first recorded in English in the early 1930s. EXAMPLE OF GÉNOISE USED IN A SENTENCE The pastry chef made the most exquisite génoise that we almost didn't want to eat it!

Cucurbit, “any plant of the gourd family,” ultimately comes from Latin cucurbita, “gourd, cupping glass.” Despite the similar spelling, it remains uncertain whether cucurbita is related to cucumis, “cucumber.” What is certain is that cucurbita, following several irregular sound changes, is the source of both courgette, a British alternative name for zucchini, and gourd, a term for fruits such as pumpkins and squash. Cucurbit was first recorded in English in the late 14th century. EXAMPLE OF CUCURBIT USED IN A SENTENCE To welcome guests in the fall season, the inn had arranged cucurbits of all shapes, sizes, and colors along their walkways.

Kreplach, “stuffed noodle turnovers,” is a borrowing of Yiddish kreplech (also transliterated as kreplakh, kreplekh), which is the plural of krepl, “meat dumpling.” The majority of words in Yiddish come from varieties of German, and krepl is no exception to this trend; it is related to standard German Krapfen and dialectal German Kräppel, “doughnut, fritter.” The source of all three words appears to be an Old High German word for “hook,” after the shape of the pastry. Following a long chain of borrowings across languages and shifts in meaning, this same Old High German root is the ultimate origin of English grape, which makes a meal of kreplach and wine etymologically appropriate. Kreplach was first recorded in English in the early 1890s. EXAMPLE OF KREPLACH USED IN A SENTENCE Similar to wontons, kreplach are savory, appetite-satisfying dumplings that add an extra kick of flavor to hearty soup.