artichoke

[ahr-ti-chohk] /ˈɑr tɪˌtʃoʊk/

noun

a tall, thistlelike composite plant, Cynara scolymus, native to the Mediterranean region, of which the numerous scalelike bracts and receptacle of the immature flower head are eaten as a vegetable.

the large, rounded, closed flower head itself.

Jerusalem artichoke.

Also called globe artichoke (for defs 1, 2).

Origin

1525-35; < Upper Italian articiocco, variant (by dissimilation) of arciciocco, arcicioffo < *arcarcioffo < Old Spanish alcarchofa < dialectal Arabic al-kharshūf the artichoke

Examples from the web for artichoke

Then she continued along a row of artichoke plants, her head bowed, always at that dramatic pace.
Memorize these toppings for the pizza you are about to make: oregano, sausage, artichoke hearts.
The marinated rose petals with artichoke foam were not a complete success.
Salt cod cheeks with beets, broccoli, chopped eggs and artichoke are delicious.
Garnish with a couple of cooked artichoke leaves, if desired.
It is a close relative of both the cultivated artichoke and the cardoon, which is grown as an ornamental flower.
Top with lemon and arrange tomatoes, artichoke hearts and parsley or basil over the top and around the sides.

British Dictionary definitions for artichoke

artichoke

/ˈɑːtɪˌtʃəʊk/

noun

Also called globe artichoke. a thistle-like Eurasian plant, Cynara scolymus, cultivated for its large edible flower head containing many fleshy scalelike bracts: family Asteraceae (composites)

the unopened flower head of this plant, which can be cooked and eaten

See Jerusalem artichoke

Word Origin

C16: from Italian articiocco, from Old Spanish alcarchofa, from Arabic al-kharshūf

Word Origin and History for artichoke

1530s, from articiocco, Northern Italian variant of Italian arcicioffo, from Old Spanish alcarchofa, from Arabic al-hursufa "artichoke." The Northern Italian variation probably is from influence of ciocco "stump."

Folk etymology has twisted the word in English; the ending is probably influenced by choke, and early forms of the word in English include archecokk, hortichock, artychough, hartichoake. The plant was known in Italy by 1450s, brought to Florence from Naples in 1466, and introduced in England in the reign of Henry VIII. French artichaut (16c.), German Artischocke (16c.) both are also from Italian.