manioc

Where does the word "manioc" come from? It comes from Tupi mandioca, passing through Portuguese/French before entering English (1560s-1600s).

Manioc’s story begins in Tupi: mandioca meant “a starchy edible root.” Named the starchy root crop cultivated throughout South America. By 1560s, the word had taken hold in Portuguese/French as manioc. From Tupi 'mandioca'; the Portuguese spread the crop to Africa. It reached English by 1560s-1600s as manioc. Borrowed into English through colonial accounts of Brazilian agriculture. Today, manioc means a starchy tropical root crop, also known as cassava, that is a staple food in many tropical countries.

1. Stage 1 · Tupi · pre-1500s mandioca "a starchy edible root", named the starchy root crop cultivated throughout South America.
2. Stage 2 · Portuguese/French · 1560s manioc "a starchy tropical root crop", from Tupi 'mandioca'; the Portuguese spread the crop to Africa.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s-1600s manioc "cassava, a starchy tropical root crop", borrowed into English through colonial accounts of Brazilian agriculture.