arugula

noun

aru·​gu·​la ə-ˈrü-gə-lə 

-gyə-

: a yellowish-flowered Mediterranean herb (Eruce sativa synonym E. 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

There’s a raw bar, so starters include stone crab claws and crudo as well as wagyu carpaccio with persimmon and arugula. —Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

Bases include arugula, kale, spinach, spring mix, herbed quinoa, white or wild rice. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Two base choices include baby arugula, seasoned rice, baby spinach, black beans, kale and quinoa. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 2025

Other shareables include a carbonara pizza with pancetta, egg, and parmigiano reggiano, roasted potatoes and a panzanella salad with marinated tomatoes, arugula, bread rusks and parmigiano reggiano. —Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Nov. 2025

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