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Where does the word "tuber" come from? It comes from Latin tūber, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
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Where does the word "tuber" come from? It comes from Latin tūber, and was adopted directly into English (1660s).
Tuber’s story begins in Latin: tūber meant “swelling.” A lump or swelling; 'truffle' comes from the same word. It reached English by 1660s as tuber. Taken into botany as the potato spread in Europe. Today, tuber means a thick underground stem, such as a potato.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tūber "swelling", a lump or swelling; 'truffle' comes from the same word.
- Stage 2 · English · 1660s tuber "underground stem", taken into botany as the potato spread in Europe.