BROCCOLI

noun Etymology: Italian, plural of broccolo flowering top of a cabbage, diminutive of brocco small nail, sprout Date: 1699 a large hardy cauliflower, 2. either of two garden vegetable plants closely related to the cabbage:, one with a thick central stem and a compact head of dense usually green florets that is classified with the cauliflower, one ( Brassica oleracea italica ) with slender stems and usually green or purple florets not arranged in a central head, the stems and immature florets of ~ used as food