Parsley

Parsley

Noun · /ˈpɑːsli/ · a bright green herb used in cooking

Definition

A bright green biennial herb of the family Apiaceae, widely used as a garnish and flavouring in European, Middle Eastern, and American cooking. Two main varieties exist: flat-leaf (Italian) parsley, favoured for its stronger flavour, and curly-leaf parsley, traditionally used as decoration. Also used figuratively in phrases like parsley on the plate — something decorative but insubstantial.

Origin

From Old English petersilie, borrowed from Latin petroselinum, which came from Greek petroselinon — petros (rock) + selinon (celery). Literally: rock celery, because the plant was found growing wild on rocky Mediterranean hillsides. The word has been in English for over a thousand years and has barely changed in meaning.