[scal.lion] n [ME scaloun, fr. AF scalun, fr. (assumed) VL escalonia, fr. L ascalonia (caepa) onion of Ascalon, fr. fem. of ascalonius of Ascalon, fr. Ascalon-, Ascalo Ascalon, seaport in southern Palestine] (14c) 1: shallot
2: leek
3: an onion forming a thick basal portion without a bulb; also: green onion