fennel

Etymology

From the Middle English fenel, from the late Old English finuðl, finule (weak feminine forms); fenol, finul (masculine forms), from Old French fenoil, from the Vulgar Latin *fēnuclum, fēnoclum, from Late Latin fēnuculum, from the Classical Latin faeniculum, a diminutive form of faenum (“hay”); compare the Italian finocchio, the Occitan fenolh, the French fenouil, and the Spanish hinojo. Doublet of finocchio.

noun

1. A plant, Foeniculum vulgare, of the parsley family, which has a sweet, anise-like flavor.
2. (cooking) The bulb, leaves, or stalks of the plant, eaten as a vegetable.
3. (cooking) The seeds of the fennel plant used as a spice in cooking.