Rocambole

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹɒkəmbəʊl/

Definitions

1. A distinct garlic variety recognized for its elongated cloves and potent aroma is frequently incorporated into diverse culinary dishes
2. An unusual type of garlic appreciated for its spiraled cloves and intense flavor can be found in several recipes
3. A unique variety of garlic, known for its elongated and twisted cloves, is valued for its strong taste and is often used in various cuisines

Etymology: The garlic called rocambole takes its name from a German dialect word, not from anything Latin or Greek. English borrowed it from French "rocambole", which in turn came from the regional German "Rockenbolle", a word for a bulb or a round, onion-like root. The garlic was known by that German name in the regions where it was grown, and the French adopted the term for the same plant. The sense of the word stayed close to its physical source. A rocambole is a type of garlic with long, slender cloves that grow in a ring around a central stalk, and the name points to the bulb itself rather than to any flavour or use. The German word was a homely term for something round and bulbous, and the garlic inherited it in a plain, descriptive way.