- carrot
- 1533, from M.Fr. carrotte, from L. carota, from Gk. karoton "carrot," from PIE *kre-, from base *ker- "horn, head," so called for its horn-like shape. Planted as a garden vegetable by 1609 by Jamestown colonists.
- redhead
- 1256, from red (1) + head (q.v.)
"The Carrot pate be sure you hate, for she'l be true to no man" [ballad, c.1680]
- carotene
- 1861, from Ger. carotin, coined 1831 by H.W.F. Wackenroder from L. carota "carrot" + Ger. form of chemical suffix -ine.
- morel
- type of mushroom, 1670s, from Fr. morille (16c.), of uncertain origin, apparently from Germanic; cf. O.H.G. morhilo (Ger. Morchel), dim. of morha "root of a tree or plant," from P.Gmc. *murhon- (cf. O.E. more, Ger. möhre "carrot").
- parsnip
- 16c., parsnepe, corruption (by influence of M.E. nepe "turnip") of M.E. passenep (late 14c.), from O.Fr. pasnaie, from L. pastinaca "parsnip, carrot," from pastinum "two-pronged fork" (related to pastinare "to dig up the ground") so called from the shape of the root. The parsnip was considered a kind of turnip.