Canola

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəˈnoʊlə/

Definitions

1. A cooking oil obtained from specific varieties of rapeseed, recognized for its light flavor and health-conscious attributes
2. An oil extracted from a cultivated form of rapeseed, appreciated for its versatility in culinary applications and low saturated fat levels
3. A type of oil derived from specially bred rapeseed, valued for its mild taste and commonly used in cooking and food preparation

Etymology: "Canola" is a blend of "Canada" and "ola," and the name was coined deliberately rather than arising from a dictionary root. It was created to give a marketable identity to a rapeseed oil that had a poor reputation, since the plant's older name carried associations people wanted to avoid. The "Can" part points to the Canadian origin of the improved variety, and "ola" echoes "oil." The coinage is a commercial one. Because the original name for the plant suggested something unappealing to consumers, a new term was needed for the low-erucic-acid version developed in Canada. The blend packaged the country of origin together with the product itself, producing a name that sounded like a brand rather than a plant.

Synonyms: rapeseed