Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural en·dives [en-dahyvz, ahn-deevz; French ahn–deev] /ˈɛn daɪvz, ˈɑn divz; French ɑ̃ˈdiv/.
- a composite plant, Cichorium endivia, having a rosette of often curly-edged leaves used in salads.Compare escarole.
- Also called Belgian endive, French endive, witloof. a young chicory plant, deprived of light to form a narrow head of whitish leaves that are eaten as a cooked vegetable or used raw in salads.
- Furniture. an ornamental motif having the form of an arrangement of acanthus or endive leaves.
noun
- a plant, Cichorium endivia, cultivated for its crisp curly leaves, which are used in salads: family Asteraceae (composites)Compare chicory
late 14c., from Old French endive, from Medieval Latin endiva or Late Latin intibus, perhaps from Medieval Greek entybon (though OED considers this a borrowing from Latin), which is perhaps of Eastern origin (perhaps from Egyptian tybi “January,” which is when the plant grows in Egypt).