rhubarb
pronunciation
How to pronounce rhubarb in British English:
UK [ˈru:bɑ:b]
How to pronounce rhubarb in American English:
US [ˈrubɑrb]
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- Noun:
- long pinkish sour leafstalks usually eaten cooked and sweetened
- plants having long green or reddish acidic leafstalks growing in basal clumps; stems (and only the stems) are edible when cooked; leaves are poisonous
Word Origin
- rhubarb
- rhubarb: [14] The Greeks had two words for ‘rhubarb’: rhéon, which was borrowed from Persian rēwend, and which evolved into Latin rheum, now the plant’s scientific name; and rha, which is said to have come from Rha, an ancient name of the river Volga, in allusion to the fact that rhubarb was once grown on its banks (rhubarb is native to China, and was once imported to Europe via Russia).In medieval Latin rhubarb became known as rha barbarum ‘barbarian rhubarb, foreign rhubarb’, again with reference to the plant’s exotic origins; and in due course association with Latin rheum altered this to rheubarbarum. It passed into English via Vulgar Latin *rheubarbum and Old French reubarbe.=> barbarian
- rhubarb (n.)
- late 14c., from Old French rubarbe, from Medieval Latin rheubarbarum, from Greek rha barbaron "foreign rhubarb," from rha "rhubarb," perhaps ultimately from a source akin to Persian rewend "rhubarb" (associated in Greek with Rha, ancient Scythian name of the River Volga) + barbaron, neuter of barbaros "foreign" (see barbarian). Grown in China and Tibet, it was imported into ancient Europe by way of Russia. Spelling altered in Medieval Latin by association with rheum. European native species so called from 1640s. Baseball slang meaning "loud squabble on the field" is from 1938, of unknown origin, said to have been first used by broadcaster Garry Schumacher. Perhaps connected with use of rhubarb as a word repeated by stage actors to give the impression of hubbub or conversation (attested from 1934).
Example
- 1. Ms. wong says it tastes like rhubarb , only better .
- 2. Effects and symptoms : the rhubarb itself , is harmless and even healthy .
- 3. The harvesting period for rhubarb is late spring through to the end of summer .
- 4. Rhubarb is a very underrated plant it produces some of the nicest tasting puddings and is incredibly easy to grow at home .
- 5. Rhubarb is something of a wonder plant in addition to an unknown poison in its leaves , they also contain a corrosive acid .