brinjal

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun hairy upright herb native to southeastern Asia but widely cultivated for its large glossy edible fruit commonly used as a vegetable

Etymology

Borrowed from Portuguese beringela, from Old Galician-Portuguese berengenha, borrowed from Arabic بَاذِنْجَان (bāḏinjān), borrowed from Classical Persian بَاذِنْگَان (bāzingān), borrowed from Sanskrit वातिङ्गण (vātiṅgaṇa), from Proto-Dravidian *waẓVtV. Doublet of aubergine.

In classic literature

Synonyms

eggplant, aubergine, eggplant bush, garden egg, mad apple, Solanum melongena

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