arugula

noun

aru·​gu·​la ə-ˈrü-gə-lə 

-gyə-

: a yellowish-flowered Mediterranean herb (Eruca vesicaria sativa) of the mustard family cultivated for its foliage which is used especially in salads

called also garden rocket, rocket, roquette, rugola

Examples of arugula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every Little Kitchen Academy environment features a Living Food Wall that produces fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables for students to use in their recipes like basil, thyme, red leaf lettuce, arugula and more. —Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2024

In this salad, peppery arugula, an oozy, creamy burrata and crunchy pistachios balance and enhance the fruit. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024

The signature arugula and shrimp salad is out of this world, as is the spaghetti with clams, for which owner Antonio Bijou completes the preparation tableside. —Sara Magro, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024

Veggies: Add flavor and texture with diced avocado, bell peppers, cucumbers, spinach, arugula, or red onions. —Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 28 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, probably from a southern dialectal form of Tuscan ruca, rucola, as Neapolitan arucola, arucolo, with English spelling -gu- reflecting lenis articulation of consonants and reduction of vowels — more at rocket entry 1

Note: For similar reflection in English spelling of southern Italian articulation compare agita, goombah. Forms with the initial ēr- of the Latin etymon ērūca "arugula, Eruca vesicaria" opened to ar- are widespread in Italian dialects—see Lessico etimologico italiano, letter E, columns 733-34.

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above