Synonyms for potato


Grammar : Noun
Spell : puh-tey-toh, -tuh
Phonetic Transcription : pəˈteɪ toʊ, -tə


Définition of potato

Origin :
  • 1560s, from Spanish patata, from a Carib language of Haiti batata "sweet potato." Sweet potatoes were first to be introduced to Europe; in cultivation in Spain by mid-16c.; in Virginia by 1648. Early 16c. Portuguese traders carried the crop to all their shipping ports and the sweet potato was quickly adopted from Africa to India and Java.
  • The name later (1590s) was extended to the common white potato, from Peru, which was at first (mistakenly) called Virginia potato, or, because at first it was of minor importance compared to the sweet potato, bastard potato. Spanish invaders in Peru began to use white potatoes as cheap food for sailors 1530s. The first potato from South America reached Pope Paul III in 1540; grown in France at first as an ornamental plant. According to popular tradition, introduced to Ireland 1565 by John Hawkins. Brought to England from Colombia by Sir Thomas Herriot, 1586.
  • German kartoffel (17c.) is a dissimilation from tartoffel, ultimately from Italian tartufolo (Vulgar Latin *territuberem), originally "truffle." Frederick II forced its cultivation on Prussian peasants in 1743. The French is pomme de terre, literally "earth-apple;" a Swedish dialectal word for "potato" is jordpäron, literally "earth-pear."
  • Colloquial pronunciation tater is attested in print from 1759. Potato chip (n.) attested from 1879. To drop (something) like a hot potato is from 1824. Children's counting-out rhyme that begins one potato, two potato first recorded 1885 in Canada. Slang potato trap "mouth" attested from 1785.
  • noun vegetable
Example sentences :
  • Separate the egg, beat the yolk, and mix it with the potato.
  • Extract from : « Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 2 » by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
  • Then another layer of meat, potato, &c., till the dish is full.
  • Extract from : « Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches » by Eliza Leslie
  • Few of the flowers merely meant for ornament are so ethereal as a potato.
  • Extract from : « Alarms and Discursions » by G. K. Chesterton
  • We'll have peas with the fillet, and potato balls and Brussels sprouts.
  • Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington
  • "Neither have I," quoth Bagley, and filled his mouth with mutton and potato.
  • Extract from : « The Mystery of Murray Davenport » by Robert Neilson Stephens
  • In a raw state the potato is used as a cooling application for burns and sores.
  • Extract from : « Storyology » by Benjamin Taylor
  • It is not only as a food-plant that the potato has secured the respect and affection of mankind.
  • Extract from : « Storyology » by Benjamin Taylor
  • And then, besides, he had just eaten a potato; that would be sufficient for him.
  • Extract from : « The Downfall » by Emile Zola
  • Victor on his side had had the idea to fill it with potato parings.
  • Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola
  • As she stuffed the first potato into her mouth, she burst out sobbing.
  • Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola

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Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019