When did the word vegetable first appear in English?
The word vegetable first appeared in English during the early 15th century. It arrived from Old French and originally described all plants collectively.
Questions about Vegetable
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What year did people begin using the term vegetable for a plant cultivated specifically for food?
In 1767, people began using the term for a plant cultivated specifically for food. That year marked the first clear distinction between edible herbs and roots versus other plant life.
How did the United States Supreme Court rule on tomatoes in 1893?
The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Nix v. Hedden that tomatoes should be taxed as vegetables under the Tariff of 1883. The court acknowledged that botanically speaking a tomato is indeed a fruit but prioritized commercial classification over biological accuracy for tax purposes.
Which countries produced the most vegetables globally in 2010?
China produced over half the world's vegetable output in 2010 alone. India, United States, Turkey, Iran, and Egypt followed as next largest producing nations globally.
Why do some beans contain natural toxins that require cooking?
Some beans contain phytohaemagglutinin while cassava roots and bamboo shoots contain cyanogenic glycosides. Natural defenses used to ward off insects predators and fungi create these compounds which adequate cooking deactivates effectively.