Word of the Day: June 5, 2009 - lettuce

lettuce (let-is) - noun

Lettuce is "a cultivated plant, Lactuca sativa, occurring in many varieties and having succulent leaves used for salads."

First used in the written form around 1250–1300. Lettuce was named for the milky white sap that exudes from its stalk when cut. The Latin for milk is lac (source of the English lactation and lactose), and so the lettuce was christened lactūca. This passed into English via laitues, the plural of Old French laitue.

Comments

[Tiger]

I'm eating Lactuca sativa right now for lunch. I wish it was indica though. lol.

Great picture, like always!