fennel

== English == === Etymology === From the Middle English fenel, from the late Old English finuðl, finule (weak feminine forms); fenol, finul (masculine forms), from Proto-West Germanic *fenukl, from the Vulgar Latin *fēnuclum, fēnoclum, from Late Latin fēnuculum, from the Classical Latin faeniculum, a diminutive form of faenum (“hay”); compare the Italian finocchio, the Occitan fenolh, the French fenouil, and the Spanish hinojo. Doublet of finocchio and finook. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈfɛnəl/ Rhymes: -ɛnəl === Noun === fennel (usually uncountable, plural fennels) A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor. (cooking) The bulb, leaves, or stalks of the plant, eaten as a vegetable. (cooking) The seeds of the fennel plant used as a spice in cooking. ==== Synonyms ==== sweet anise ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === fennel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia