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Yam

2 stages from Wolof/Fulani to English.

Today it means a starchy edible tuber grown in tropical regions
1
Stage 1 of 2
nyami
Wolof/Fulani · 1500s
"to eat"
literally to eat, describing the starchy root eaten across West Africa
2
Stage 2 of 2
yam
English · 1600s
"a starchy edible tuber"
settled as the word for the starchy tuber
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