Celtuce

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɛlt.əs/

Definitions

1. A variety of lettuce with elongated stems and leafy tops, commonly employed in salads and various Asian dishes
2. This vegetable, recognized for its crisp stalks and delicate leaves, is primarily grown for fresh use and adds diversity to meals
3. A type of lettuce known for its long stalks and tender leaves, often used in salads and a variety of Asian cuisine preparations

Etymology: Celtuce is a vegetable whose name is a portmanteau of two better-known plants: celery and lettuce. The plant is eaten for its thick, crisp stalk rather than its leaves, which makes it sound like a cross between the two, though it is a distinct variety of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. angustana) that developed a swollen, edible stem. The name simply stitches together the two vegetables it resembles in texture and use. The blend is transparent in form, so the word needs little unpacking. "Celery" supplies the crunch and the stalky shape, while "lettuce" identifies the plant's family and its leafy relatives. Because the stem is the part people eat, the word leans toward celery in sound while the plant remains a lettuce in botany.

Synonyms: lettuce, salad, vegetable