Cinnamome

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An archaic name for the fragrant, sweet spice obtained from the dried inner bark of certain tropical trees
2. A dated term for the aromatic bark of an evergreen tree, ground or rolled into the warm-flavoured spice used in cooking
3. Old-fashioned word for the sweet, woody-scented spice prepared from the inner bark of trees of the laurel family

Etymology: Herodotus, the Greek historian, reported that cinnamon was gathered from the nests of huge birds on unreachable cliffs. Traders supposedly lured the birds with chunks of ox and donkey meat, which the birds carried up to their nests, and the nests collapsed under the weight so the spice could be collected. Herodotus himself doubted the tale, but it shows how little the Greeks knew of where the spice grew. The Greek name, "kinnamomon", was probably borrowed from a Semitic language, and Hebrew "qinnamon" is a close relative. The Greek form passed into Latin as "cinnamomum", and Old French then produced the form "cinnamome", which English likely borrowed. English later settled on "cinnamon", while "cinnamome" survives as an archaic variant.