Ramps

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. Sloping surfaces built to connect different heights for easier movement ; wild edible plants with broad green leaves and strong flavor similar to garlic
2. Structures with a gentle incline meant to help move things between levels ; wild garlic plants that grow in North American woods and are used in cooking
3. Inclined walkways or paths designed to assist movement between elevations ; wild herbs with pungent bulbs and leaves eaten as vegetables or seasonings

Etymology: "Ramps" is the plural of "ramp," and the two senses come from the same source, though they reached English in different ways. The sloping structure was borrowed from German "Ramp," which is related to the verb "rampen," meaning to climb or rear up. A ramp in this sense is a slope that lets you climb or roll from one level to another, which is exactly what the German root suggests. The wild plant is a separate story. Its name is a shortened form of "ramson," an Old English word for wild garlic, so the two uses share a verb-like rising idea only by coincidence of spelling. The plant's sharp, garlicky smell and its appearance in spring woods made it a prized forage food in North America, where it is still foraged and cooked today.

Synonyms: inclines, slopes, ascents