Plantain

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈplant(e)ɪn/
• US IPA: /ˈplæntɪn/, IPA: /ˈplæn.teɪn/

From Anglo-Norman plainteine et al., Old French plaintain, from Latin plantaginem ("plantain"), accusative of plantāgō, from planta ("sole"), because of the broad, flat shape of the plantain leaves.

Full definition of plantain

Noun

1. A plant of the genus Plantago, with a rosette of sessile leaves about 10 cm long with a narrow part instead of a petiole, and with a spike inflorescence with the flower spacing varying widely among the species. See also psyllium.
• 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society 2007, p. 225:The roots of Plantain and Pellitory of Spain beaten to powder and put into hollow teeth, takes away the pains of them.

Synonyms

• waybread

Derived terms

• water plantain

From Spanish plantano, obsolete variant of plátano, from Galibi Carib platana ("banana").

Noun

1. A plant in the genus Musa, the genus that includes banana, but with lower sugar content than banana.
2. The fruit of the plant, usually cooked before eating and used like potatoes.

Related terms

• banana plantain
• bocadillo plantain
• cooking plantain