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onionn.1  Brit.  /ˈʌnjən/, U.S. /ˈənj(ə)n/, Bermudian English /ˈɒnjən/, /ˈʌnjən/Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French vngeon, unniun, oynoun, oignon. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman vngeon (1130: see below), unniun (c1190),hoinnon, hoynun, huniun, hunnun, oignon, oingnun, oinion, oinon, oinoun, oinun, ongnun, oynnun, oynoin, oynun, uniun (all 13th cent.), oynoun (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier), and Old French, Middle French, French oignon onion (c1230 or earlier in Old French; also hunion (c1200), ognon (1275)), pearl (1370 in Middle French; also in Anglo-Norman in this sense as uniun ), bulb (1538), bunion (1701; 1611 in Cotgrave in oignon du pied ) < classical Latin ūniōn- , ūniō a large single pearl, also a rustic Roman name for a single onion (see below) < ūnus one (see one adj.) + -iō -ion suffix1. Compare Old Occitan uignon, ignon onion. Compare post-classical Latin oygnunus, oynonus (1254, 1346 in British sources; from Anglo-Norman or French).According to the classical Latin agricultural writer Columella, the peasants used ūniō for a certain variety of onion because it put forth no shoots, i.e. it represented a single entity. The application of the word to a pearl may represent an independent derivation from ūnus one, alluding to the fact that it was worn alone, or it may be a transfer from the sense ‘onion’, with reference to the similarity in shape. With the β. forms compare e.g. mither , variant of mother n.1, brither , variant of brother n. and int., and hinnie , variant of honey n. Regional pronunciations in (broadly) /ʌɪ/ and /ɔɪ/ as well as /ɪ/ are recorded for southern counties of England, and these may be represented by some of the β. spellings. In form noynen showing metanalysis (see N n.). With forms with -ng- , -nȝ- , etc., for the French palatal nasal consonant /ɲ/ compare discussion s.v. N n. Examples such as the following from the 12th and 13th centuries should probably be taken as showing the Anglo-Norman rather than the Middle English word:1130 in Pipe Roll 31 Henry I (1929) 144 Et In Harengs & Vngeons & Oleo..conductu usque ad Vdestoc viij li.1225 in T. D. Hardy Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum (1844) II. 90 De nave..carcata weida & allece & oynoins..allece & weida & oinoins. the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > onion, leek, or garlic > [noun] > onion the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion α. 1356–7 in J. T. Fowler (1899) II. 558 In Cepis et unyonnsede. a1382 (Bodl. 959) Num. xi. 5 Þe leke & þe vnonys [a1425 Corpus Oxf. vniowns; a1425 L.V. oyniouns] & þe garlekys. c1387–95 G. Chaucer 634 Wel loued he garlek, oynons [v.rr. oynyons, onyounnys, onyons] and eek lekes. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 221 An onyoun hatte Cepa oþer cepe & is an herbe þat haþ al his vertue in þe roote and in þe seed. a1425 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 645 Hoc sepe, honȝon. ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 89 An Onȝone, bilbus. 1522 J. Skelton 368 What here ye of Burgonyons And the Spaniardes' onyons? ?1542 H. Brinkelow xxiv. sig. G7v As moch for that purpose, as to lay an vnyon to my lytel fyngar for the tothe ache. a1580 Chron. Fortirgall in C. N. Innes (1855) 147 Ane oynion is helssum to annoynt the place that is bittin vith ane madde dog. 1616 B. Holyday tr. Persius iv. sig. C8v A coated oignion then with salt hee eates. 1622 T. Dekker & P. Massinger ii. sig. Fv Lets both be turnd into a rope of Onyons if we do. 1680 in L. B. Taylor (1961) VI. 257 Except for selling of Scotts onȝions and bread. 1718 M. Prior Alma i, in (new ed.) 321 Who wou'd ask for her Opinion Between an Oyster, and an Onion? 1782 J. Abercrombie (ed. 9) 119 Onions or leeks for the main crop should be sown the beginning or middle of this month. 1806 ‘Ignotus’ (ed. 3) 68 Take three or four beef steaks cut thick, and season them with pepper, salt, and onion shred fine. 1831 M. Prince Hist. W. Indian Slave in H. L. Gates (1988) 13 My work was planting and hoeing sweet-potatoes, Indian corn, plaintains, bananas, cabbages, pumpkins, onions, etc. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) III. 243 They will have a relish—salt, and olives, and cheese, and onions. 1905 E. Tuite 11 When the onion begins to get soft remove it. Mix the cornflour with a little cold water and stir into the gravy. 1935 T. S. Eliot i. 20 And our hearts are torn from us, our brains unskinned like the layers of an onion. 1963 16 Apr. 26/7 In Kansas City..they are now serving the coonburger, made from carefully chopped raccoons, with onions and garlic salt added. 1990 Sept. 2/3 Diseased plants—such as cabbage with club root, onions with onion mildew, or root crops with dry rot—should be burned and their ashes added to the compost. 2. With distinguishing words. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > other types of onion a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 221v Þe tame oynoun haþ an holowȝ stalke wiþouten knottes. ?c1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac (Paris) (1971) 498 (MED) And mouse oynoun [L. cepa muris] yrosted with oyle of onyfanyn is praysede of Avicen. c1440 46 (MED) Tak & mynce a rede vnyon. 1552 R. Huloet Onyon called a redde onyon, pallancana. 1581 B. Rich Concl. sig. Dd.iij [They are] sometymes rounde like to Saincte Thomas Onions. 1629 J. Parkinson II. xliii. 512 The long kinde wee call St. Omers Onions, and corruptly among the vulgar, St. Thomas Onions. 1699 M. Lister (new ed.) 153 They abound in vast quantities of large Red Onions... And the long and sweet white Onion of Languedoc. 1706 G. London & H. Wise I. i. 93 Red [and] white Spanish Onion. 1777 Oct. 328 Weed your beds..on which your Welch onions are sown. 1832 E. Lankester 290 The Tree, or Bulb-bearing Onion. 1855 ‘E. S. Delamer’ 40 Few gardeners, if any, can say they have ever seen a potato-onion in flower. 1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore I. 40/2 How this [sc. A. fistulosum] obtained the name of Welsh Onion it is impossible to say, as it is a native of Siberia and certain parts of Russia. 1911 F. M. Farmer iv. 83 Peel six large Bermuda onions and remove a part of inside. 1948 G. D. H. Bell xvii. 176 There are also the small shallot types, the Tree Onion, Potato Onion, Welsh Onion and Chives which are only garden or small-holding crops. 1994 8 Oct. e2/5 Blue onion (A. caeruleum) blooms on foot-tall stems in June. the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > names applied to various plants > [noun] a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 221v Cepe caninum, as it were an houndes oynoun, hatte squilla also, and is y-founde by þe see syde, þerfore Platearius clepiþ him cepe marina, as it were a see oynoun. 1548 W. Turner sig. E.viij Ornithigalon is called in Colon Hondes vllich..after the folowynge of the duche tonge it maye be called dogleke or dogges onion. 1607 E. Topsell 28 Pushes or suddaine boyles..are cured with the ioyce of asses dung, and of sea-oynions beat to pouder. 1807 J. Robinson iii. iv. 211 Drawing round the person purified a squill, or sea-onion. 1832 W. D. Williamson I. 120 The Brake, of which there are several varieties, the root of which is sometimes called the ‘bog-onion’. 1878 W. Dickinson (ed. 2) 9/1 Bog onion, the Osmunda Regalis or flowering fern. 1945 23 Apr. 19/3 Kamas—a staple food in the early days. A bulbous root, sometimes called the siwash onion. 1974 S. L. Everist 353 Bulbinopsis bulbosa..native leek, also known as onion weed or wild onion. The last two common names are also applied to many unrelated plants with narrow, succulent leaves. the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Liliaceae family or plants > [noun] > squill or sea-onion ?a1425 f. 198 (MED) Squilla, Squylle, it is a oyneoun hote & drye in þe þridde degree. a1500 (Laud) (1950) 202 (MED) Squilla is an herbe þat me clepuþ oynon..he growith in feldes and in brynkes of þe see. society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > pearl > [noun] 1688 R. Holme ii. 39/2 The Onion, or Unions, or Pearl, are little round Stones, white. 1750 tr. C. Leonardus 200 The Pearl is for the most part round, and by some is called an Onion. the world > plants > part of plant > bulb > [noun] 1721 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt (new ed.) II. xix. vi. 559 Making one only Julyflower or Tulip spring out of its Onion or Bulb. the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > [noun] > disorders of extremities > of the foot 1785 D. Low (title) Chiropodologia; or, A scientific enquiry into the causes of corns, warts, onions, and other painful or offensive cutaneous excrescences. 1802 17 Apr. 2/3 He eradicates Corns, Onions, or Nails growing into the Quick. 1846 F. Brittan tr. J. F. Malgaigne 64 The onion has a large base, and several layers of epidermis (like the layers of an onion) adhering to the skin in several points. 7. the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > jewellery of specific shape or form > [noun] > pendant > fastened to a watch-chain or girdle 1811 Onion, a seal. Onion hunters, a class of young thieves who are on the look out for gentlemen who wear their seals suspended on a ribbon, which they cut, and thus secure the seals or other trinkets suspended to the watch. 1829 26 132 Then his ticker I set a-going..And his onions, chains and key. 1834 W. H. Ainsworth II. iii. v. 346 With my fawnied famms, and my onions gay. 1881 A. Trumble 41 We pinched his thimble, slang and onions..the slang and onions were bene. the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > mile > nautical mile > a fraction of a nautical mile 1916 ‘Taffrail’ v. 73 We got about six and an onion out of the old bus,..and reached there about noon. 1938 F. A. Worsley iv. 71 The speed..was 13 knots or, as Stringer put it: ‘Thirteen and an onion in the squalls.’ 1958 F. H. Shaw ii. 48 ‘Fifteen, sir, fifteen and an onion!’ called the second mate. ‘That's the way I like her to move,’ said Fegan. 1982 L. Lind 108/2 Onion, the smallest fraction of a knot. 8. the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > protuberance or rounded projection > [noun] > a protuberance or protuberant part > knob 1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ 134 The end of the rod B..has a knob or onion on it, by which it can be moved endwise while it is turning in the box C. the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > [adjective] > insanity or madness > affected with 1881 J. C. F. Johnson 19 What with sore eyes, a feverish cold, and fatigue, I was—in the vernacular of the district—rather ‘off my onion’. 1890 A. Barrère & C. G. Leland II. 94/2 Off his onion (costermongers), imbecile, cracked. 1909 H. G. Wells (U.K. ed.) ii. ii. 176 He come home one day saying Tono-Bungay till I thought he was clean off his onion. 1928 11 Dec. 7/4 After four drops of beer I am properly off my onion. 1934 J. D. Carr (1986) ii. 26 Look here, sir, do you mean that my governor has gone off his onion? 1978 P. Larkin Let. 17 Aug. in (1992) 588 What on earth makes you think I could sustain that kind of thing? Off yr old onion you must be. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person 1904 G. Ade 21 Wilbur was 18 and an Onion. He had outgrown his last year's Tunic, and his Smalls were hardly on speaking terms with his Uppers. 1917 O. Dent V.A.D. in France in P. Beale (ed. 8, 1984) 833/1 I'll cut the bread if you like. I seem to be the onion this afternoon. 1934 F. Nebel in June 16/1 I'm going to hate to prosecute that onion for murder. 1953 E. Simon i. 35 He's the poor onion who makes out the various rosters. 2004 J. Barratt & N. Fielding (transcribed from TV programme) 1st Ser. Episode 8 [Howard] He’s melted. [Hitcher] I ain’t melted, you onion. I’m over here. society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > ammunition for firearms > [noun] > anti-aircraft projectile 1917 Apr. 560/1 A line of fiery rectangles shot up... These were ‘onions’, the flaming rockets which the Boche keeps for..hostile aircraft. 1918 in (1975) 47 84 The airmen's pest is the ‘onion’, or large flaming anti-aircraft shell. 1936 ‘McScotch’ vi. 122 On heading south for the other balloon the ‘onion’ battery had another shot at me. 2000 W. L. Priest 156/2 Onions, explosions of anti-aircraft rounds in the air. the world > people > nations > native or inhabitant of America > native or inhabitant of West Indies > [adjective] > specific islands 1951 Oct. 10/1 When the Onions, Limeys or Caledonians played, some of the spirit and atmosphere of Wembley and Hampden descended on the field for the occasion. 1970 16 May 5/2 We ‘Onions’ like our cricket fresh and venturesome, but solid nonetheless. 2018 @MRM3333 17 Aug. in twitter.com (accessed 4 Aug. 2020) [In response to You're a Bermudian. Welcome Home.] I'm an Onion! Phrasesthe mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > be or become familiar with [phrase] 1908 Feb. 27/3 Never mind: Billy knows his onions. He is not troubled with corns or bunions. 1922 Mar. 530/1 Mr. Roberts knows his onions, all right. 1958 J. Cannan ix. 200 Shakespeare knew his onions, didn't he? 1974 J. Wainwright xxxii. 166 They know their onions... They are old in wisdom and experience. 2002 No. 12. 41/4 (advt.) We do however know our onions when it comes to digital cameras.., after all that's all we sell. the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > impossible to number [phrase] > one among many 1934 P. G. Wodehouse vii. 75 I claim the right to have a pop at these problems..without having everybody behave as if Jeeves was the only onion in the hash. 1972 P. G. Wodehouse vii. 109 She wanted to stimulate competition. By showing you you weren't the only onion in the stew she would get your attention. 1995 (Nexis) 8 Mar. (Business section) 10 ABC's move shows that Moody's is not the only onion in the stew. Compounds C1. a. General attributive. the world > food and drink > farming > farm > farmland > land raising crops > [noun] > onion land the world > food and drink > farming > gardening > garden > division or part of garden > [noun] > bed or plot > bed in kitchen-garden > of specific plants 1565 T. Cooper Cepêtum, an oynion bedde: a platte of oynions. 1574 J. Baret O 92 An onyon bed, or a place planted with onyons. 1828 M. R. Mitford III. 98 Most ingeniously watering her onion-bed with a new mop—now a dip, and now a twirl! 1874 551 Raked as smooth as an onion bed. 1926 N. Gale Rupert Rabbit in 52 Before you hurry off to bite Those carrots near the onion-bed I wish to know if you are quite Aware of all that I have said. 1975 D. Green 91 They..no longer need the special onion beds which took so many years to perfect. 2001 (Nexis) 29 Sept. I'll start a new onion bed at the far end of the patch, away from contaminated soil. 1830 J. Lindley 274 In consequence of the free phosphoric acid which the common Onion bulbs contain. 1864 Aug. 312/2 7 barrels of onion bulbs. 1925 11 185 We thus have a distinct correlation between the flavone or anthocyan color in onion bulbs and their resistance to two common diseases, smudge and neck rot. 1975 D. Hoobler & T. Hoobler 77 Growing onions from seeds takes up to four or five months, so most home gardeners buy onion ‘sets’, which are the baby onion bulbs, ready to be buried in early spring, 2 inches deep, 4 inches apart, in rows 12 inches apart. 1995 13/1 (advt.) Egyptian Onions or Walking Onions—A unique onion, whose bulb remains in the ground from one year to the next, producing annual crops of onion bulbs on the end of stalks. 1835 C. I. Johnstone in May 337/2 Old Mrs. Luke was rejoiced to hear of her darling Mysie's health, of the flourishing condition of the onion crop in her son Mark's new garden. 1879 46th Congress 1 Sess. App. 120/1 The onion crop of South Carolina. 1946 P. R. Kibbe xii. 197 Third in line as a source of income for migratory laborers..was the onion crop. 1990 R. Staines v. 56 Accurate drilling of all onion crops is essential for an even stand. 2000 W. Klein iii. x. 120 After the onion crop setback, raising turkeys became very much in vogue. 1626 F. Bacon §445 It may bee tried also, with putting Onion-Seed into an Onion-Head, which thereby (perhaps) will bring forth a larger, and earlier Onion. 1681 S. Colvil ii. 8 There be Onion-heads and Garlick, The food of Turkish Janizaries. 1728 A. Ramsay Last Speech Miser in II. 95 My Pouch produc'd an Ingan Head, To please my Wame. 1809 W. Irving I. iii. i. 121 His head was a perfect sphere, far excelling in magnitude that of the great Pericles (who was thence waggishly called Schenocephalus, or onion head). 1991 90 474 While Perikles commonly may have been dubbed ‘Big Bulb’ or ‘Onion-head’ in Greek comedy, could an analogous reference to his cranial peculiarity have occurred in High Classic visual art? 1958 20 Feb. 9 The shop specializes in an onion roll that resembles a bagel but is softer. 2001 11 June 59/2 There are baskets of squeezy onion rolls on the table and gravy boats of..red steak sauce. the world > food and drink > food > additive > other flavourings > [noun] 1925 G. W. Johnson Jan. 60 (title) Onion Salt. 1980 71/2 Top with crust, sprinkle with onion salt, and bake until golden brown. the world > food and drink > food > additive > sauce or dressing > [noun] > onion sauce 1699 E. Ward I. xi. 3 As much avers'd..as a Court Lady is to Onion-Sawce. 1723 J. Nott sig. X5 (heading) To make Onion Sauce. Cut..Onions into slices, put them into a Sauce-pan with some Veal-gravy,..simmer. 1787 J. Woodforde 4 Dec. (1926) II. 356 I gave them for Dinner..a couple of Rabbitts boiled and Onion Sauce. 1839 C. Dickens xli. 399 I don't know how it is, but a fine warm summer day like this,..always puts me in mind of roast pig, with sage and onion sauce and made gravy. 1877 E. S. Dallas 320 (heading) Onion sauce.—See the Soubise sauce, the Breton sauce, and the Sauce Robert. 1939 T. S. Eliot 45 And when he's finished, licks his paws So's not to waste the onion sauce. 1998 N. Lawson (1999) 296 A fine Sunday lunch was roast chicken as it always used to be done, with parsley and thyme stuffing, bread and onion sauce, roast potatoes and sausages and honey-roast parsnips. 2001 D. Valent in B. Geddes 209 Fresh fish served with an onion sauce. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > skin, seed, shoots, or bulbs 1356–7 in J. T. Fowler (1899) II. 558 In Cepis et unyonnsede. 1468–9 in J. T. Fowler (1898) I. 92 (MED) j lb. et di. del unyonsede. 1626 F. Bacon §445 It may bee tried also, with putting Onion-Seed into an Onion-Head, which thereby (perhaps) will bring forth a larger, and earlier Onion. 1731 P. Miller I. at Cepa About the Beginning of August the Onion-Seed will be ripe, which may be known by its changing brown. 1811 (Connecticut Acad. Arts & Sci.) I. 23 Drills are not used, except to drop onion seed. 1879 Apr. 766/1 Onion seed or sets also should go into the ground as early as possible. 1945 May 391/2 By this process a strain of male-sterile onion can be developed which can be crossed, without emasculation, with pollen from an inbred male-fertile strain to produce hybrid onion seed. 1988 3 Sept. 22/5 (advt.) A clear phial of supreme graded and selected onion seeds. 2001 M. Hughes et al. 45 This aromatic mix is a blend of..black mustard seeds and kalonji (..also called onion seed). the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > soup or pottage > [noun] > vegetable soup 1747 H. Glasse ix. 77 An Onion Soop. 1861 I. M. Beeton vi. 73 Onion Soup... 6 large onions,..¼ pint of cream. 1898 Jan. 351/1 The English girl breakfasted on a bowl of onion-soup; but I would not guarantee that she enjoyed the necessity. 1966 J. B. Priestley xiii. 179 He..opened a tin, French and good, of onion soup. 2001 22 Jan. 47/2 The incoming chef..is a native of a small town in Alsace, where saucisson, onion soup, and potato salad are, figuratively speaking, mother's milk. b. Objective. 1884 E. Barker 80 An onion-eating or garlick-eating people. 1937 52 223 The last word concerning the author who amiably satirized Connecticut Yankees for their onion-eating and conceived Ichabod Crane as the apotheosis of New England pedagoguery has been written by a professor in New Haven. 1996 (Nexis) 1 Oct. a2 These days, she's a happily married onion-eating vegetarian. 1811 P. B. Shelley 17 May (1964) I. 92 How gets on your onion-loving Deist. 1996 (Nexis) 5 May (Special section) v.11 One visit, an onion-loving patron had not only snagged the pletzo, but also had cleaned out the onion sticks. 2001 7 Nov. f01 The ethnic influence of the '90s, particularly that of the onion-loving Hispanic market. society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of provisions > seller of onions ?c1475 (BL Add. 15562) f. 89 An Onȝon sellere, Ceparius. a1500 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker (1884) I. 688 Hic ceparius, unȝonseller. 1897 30 Oct. 287/2 Behind him I see the blue blouse of the old onion-seller, who lies unnoticed on the ground. 1914 W. B. Yeats 15 What th' onion-sellers thought or did. 1970 V. Canning xvi. 300 Troops..strung with hand grenades..like French onion sellers. 2002 (Nexis) 9 July 33 Its latest slogan, ‘Vive la Vie Francaise’, conjures up pictures of onion sellers in berets quaffing at a village bar. 1851 H. Mayhew I. 94/1 Onion selling can be started on a small amount of capital. 1915 23 Nov. 5/3 Onion-selling parties in England. 1996 (Nexis) 18 June A man who travels the neighbourhood on a bicycle, dispensing medical advice as a sideline to his core business of onion selling. c. Parasynthetic. 1959 25 Apr. 9/5 A baroque, onion-spired church. 2000 (Nexis) 31 Dec. (Sports section) 6 Muscovites and tourists alike gawked as the players posed for photos in front of onion-spired St Basil's. 1959 15 Jan. 131/1 Almost every little South Swabian and Bavarian village has its delightful onion-towered church. 1995 (Nexis) 14 May (Tempo section) c6 The onion-towered Catholic churches..now attract as many as 1,000 Chinese worshippers each Sunday. d. Similative. 1906 S. W. Bushell II. viii. 23 The brilliant grass-greens of the Lungch'üan porcelain, called ts'ung-lü, or ‘onion-green’ by the Chinese. 1967 H. Scott iv. 29 Even in the accustomed green, there are dozens of distinct hues, bearing such colorful names as kingfisher, spinach, emerald, moss and young onion green. 1853 25 528 A hot saturated solution of boracic acid produces an onion-red color, when a little tincture of litmus is poured into it. 2000 (Nexis) 7 Apr. (What's Happening section) 4 Medallions of salmon play their oily succulence against lush, earthy lentils in an intriguing dinner entree splashed by an onion-red currant vinaigrette. 1830 (ed. 7) IV. 349 Lyc[operdon] proteus... Var. 82 Onion-shaped. 1896 Aug. 375/1 The epithet of ‘holy city’ is justified by the sanctuary of the Kremlin, but its aptness is further sustained by the three hundred and sixty churches, each with its tower and onion-shaped cupola, which are scattered through all the districts. 1959 J. Braine vi. 87 The chapel..was a compact red-brick building with large round-headed windows, topped rather incongruously by a tower with an onion-shaped dome. 2000 10 Sept. t5/2 Mosques and marabouts, white, onion-shaped tombs for great teachers, sages and holy men) are everywhere. 1950 F. Maclean 374 Serbia was spread out before us in the sunshine, a patchwork of green orchards.., the whitewashed walls of a village and the onion spire of a church. 1988 R. Turnbull 117 At Erikson twin onion spires on a Ukrainian church belie the Norse name. 1868 G. M. Hopkins (1959) 179 The churches here have those onion steeples nearly all. 1960 11 June 11/6 A Church with Baroque ‘onion’ steeple. C2. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular cultivated or ornamental plants > particular flower or plant esteemed for flower > [noun] > lily and allied flowers > asphodels 1597 J. Gerard i. 89 Of Onion Asphodill. 1659 R. Lovell 23 Onion asphodill. 1884 W. Miller 6/2 Asphodel, Onion, Asphodelus fistulosus. 1946 27 218/1 The average number of pods per bag in the 50-pound size mesh onion bags used in the 1943 collection program ranged from less than 500..to about 800. 1979 in (1994) 121 (cartoon caption) Bingo! Goal, goal, goal! Straight into the onion bag! 2001 (Electronic ed.) 1 Apr. The storeroom held a large stack of 50-pound-capacity onion bags, woven of red plastic. 2002 (Electronic ed.) 28 Feb. We played well and were probably the better side but at the end of the day they put the ball in the onion bag. the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > weed > [noun] > wild oat 1880 J. Britten & R. Holland Onion Couch, Avena elatior... It is also called Onion Grass..and Onion Twitch. 1937 S. F. Armstrong (ed. 3) i. 5 In the weed known as ‘Onion Couch’..it is common to find several of the lower internodes enlarged and forming a chain of tubers. 1991 C. Stace 1030 Var. bulbosum..has the basal, very short culm internodes swollen and corm-like; they are effective propagules in arable land (Onion Couch). society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > dome or cupola 1868 9 Dec. 373/3 The same green iron roofs, and the same churches with their tall belfries and their onion domes. 1897 13 Mar. 745/1 This form is sometimes called ‘the onion dome,’ and sometimes ‘the watermelon,’ for it resembles both. 1950 9 237 The picture of the onion dome found in the Dubilov Gospel..forms illustration 42. 1991 16 Dec. 78/2 Churchly treasures and onion domes hunker on the dozen snowy sites of The Golden Ring: Cities of Old Russia. society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [adjective] > dome or cupola > specific type 1891 Jan. 51 The little church was near these, a plain white building with red onion-domed tower. 1959 26 Feb. 9/4 The Kremlin, with its three onion-domed cathedrals. 1990 Mar.–Apr. 19 a/1 An imperial city of canals, bridged, grandiose baroque palaces and onion-domed buildings. 2002 Feb. 57/1 Red Square... The iconic splendour of the onion-domed St Basil's Cathedral at one end is undoubted. the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > lamentation or expression of grief > weeping > [adjective] a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 35 Looke they weepe, And I an Asse, am Onyon-ey'd. View more context for this quotation 1753 I. 23 But your women are all onion-eyed. the world > animals > fish > superorder Acanthopterygii (spiny fins) > [noun] > order Lampridiformes > member of genus Cepola (ribbon-fish) 1854 C. D. Badham 232 The..onion-fish, whose body peels into flakes like that bulb, and who zigzags through the waves like a leech. 1884 G. B. Goode in G. B. Goode et al. 244 The Grenadiers, or, as the fishermen frequently call them, on account of the size and shape of their eyes, ‘Onion-fishes’, inhabit the deep parts of the ocean. the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [noun] > suborder Cyclorrhapha > family Muscidae > delia cepetorum or anthomyia ceparum (onion fly) the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Diptera or flies > [adjective] > of or relating to family Muscidae > delia cepetorum or anthomyia ceparum 1840 J. Loudon & M. Loudon tr. V. Köllar ii. 159 The larva very much resembles that of the onion fly. 1896 17 July 6/7 Onion fly, which causes serious injuries to the onion crop. 1966 6 Apr. 510/2 Sets..will grow onions..without onion fly risk. 1990 R. Staines v. 57 Pests are not normally a problem on onions and leeks but eelworm and onion fly can sometimes be troublesome. 1714 (Royal Soc.) 28 91 About the bigness of an Onion-Hoe. 1991 Spring 27/2 The..weeds in the paving are easily eradicated using the corner of an onion hoe or a knife. 1861 July 195/2 Try a weak solution of oil soap, a pound to eight gallons of water, upon a small plot, if troubled with the onion maggot. 1929 1 Feb. 117/2 Papers on ‘Insects Affecting Truck Crops’ were presented Monday morning, dealing with..field studies on the onion maggot, cucumber beetles and carrot rust fly. 1992 Dec. 92/1 The onion maggot fly is the most destructive. The adult..lays eggs near the base of the plant in early summer. 1942 C. Barrett iii. 40 Ant-house plants were growing on the mangroves, together with onion-orchids. 1961 6 Cucumber, potato and even onion orchids. 1985 2 Sept. 23/2 There are all kinds of greenhoods, sun-orchids..and the minutely flowered onion-orchids. society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > transparent paper 1868 E. Bulwer-Lytton 192 One of those daily scribblers,—fellows who live in garrets, pelting princely names with onion peel,—contrived to get hold of the story. 1898 10 Nov. 6/4 It is not the ordinary foreign paper, nor the ‘onion peel’—so called from its transparency. 1946 H. J. Rose i. vii. 142 She was handed two bits of onion-peel, but on reaching home, found that they were Turkish gold coins. 2002 (Nexis) 13 June (Good Life section) 23 Roses certainly seem to thrive when onion peels are dug in around them. the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > onion, leek, or garlic > [noun] > onion > onion ring 1769 B. Clermont tr. (ed. 2) II. 444 Then put the Sweet-bread in the Middle of the Dish; put two or three of the Onion-rings upon it. 1936 June 412 French onion rings. 2002 7 Jan. 33 I found myself at the bar, devouring plates of gourmet pulled-pork sandwiches topped with frizzled onion rings. the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > skin, seed, shoots, or bulbs 1859 H. W. Beecher 110 If you prefer top-onion sets, or sets of any other kind, plant them out at..eight inches between the row and five or six between the sets. 1886 Oct. 708/2 ‘Onion sets’..are produced by sowing the ordinary black seed very thickly on light poor land. 1951 (Royal Hort. Soc.) III. 1424/2 Small bulbs grown in the previous autumn and known as ‘onion sets’ may..be planted in spring for the raising of dry bulbs. 1988 Apr. 55/3 The garden centres were also full of onion sets. 2001 4 Mar. (Life Suppl.) 64/1 I moved thalictrums, took melianthus and dahlias cuttings, thinned rocket and planted 150 ‘Turbo’ onion sets. the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Pelecypoda or Conchifera > [noun] > section Asiphonida > family Ostreidae > member of (oyster) > shell of 1753 Suppl. Onion-shell,..a peculiar kind of oister, which is of a roundish figure, and very thin, and transparent, and [is like] the peel of an onion. 1882 (new ed.) Onion-shell, a species of oyster of roundish form; also, species of Lutraria and Mya. 1878 IV. 1076/1 Urocystis cepulæ is the onion-smut, which has caused great harm, particularly in Connecticut. 1930 57 447 In the onion smut, Urocystis Cepulae, Anderson..and Blizzard..maintain that infection takes place through the cotyledon. 1988 G. N. Agrios (ed. 3) xi. 475 Urocystis, causing onion smut (U. cepulae), and leaf or stalk smut of rye (U. occulta). the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > weed > [noun] > wild oat 1875 10 Apr. 477/2 Onion Twitch. 1880 J. Britten & R. Holland Onion Couch, Avena elatior... It is also called Onion Grass..and Onion Twitch. the world > health and disease > healing > medicines or physic > medicines of specific form > decoction or infusion > [noun] > aqueous decoction or infusion > specific 1694 W. Salmon i. xi. 717/2 You may make it with Parsly, Arsmart, or Onion-water. 1930 H. W. Shoemaker 44 Onion snow, a late snow in Spring after the onions have been set out. 1937 12 238 ‘Onion snow’ is one that falls after the onions are planted. Generally it is a storm of short duration, coming after days of balmy spring weather—‘false spring’, about the time these folks begin to plow. 1943 Sun (Baltimore) 22 Apr. 16/5, in (1996) III. 884/1 The prolonged spell of abnormal spring cold weather had at last eventuated into the usual ‘onion rain’ of the srping [sic] season. 1990 D. Kline (1993) 71 The ‘onion’ snowstorm on the last day of March brought a sudden stop to these early migrants' northward travels. Derivatives the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > vegetables > onion, leek, or garlic > [noun] > onion > types of onion the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular vegetables > [noun] > onion, leek, or garlic > onion > other types of onion 1820 8 89 From your large, fat, yellow, insipid onion, to your little, lean, fiery, bitter onionet. the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fetor > [adjective] > other spec. 1830 1 751 The unwashed fraternity of onionized ragamuffins. 1962 in H. Himmelstein (1994) 140 Sally begins to cry. Luke empathizes, ‘Now don't go gittin' yourself all onionized.’ 1868 2 347 These plants [sc. orchids] are found in myriads..strapping their naked, onion-like bulbs to any chance support. 1944 A. Holmes viii. 119 Ultimately the angular block is transformed into an onion-like structure of concentric shells of rusty and thoroughly rotted residual material. 2001 14 Oct. (Food Monthly Suppl.) 16/4 A wild onion-like hyacinth. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). onionn.2 Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: onion n.1 Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps a spec. sense of onion n.1, although the sense development would be unclear (and compare quot. 1984). Australian slang. the world > physical sensation > sexual relations > sexual activity > other types of sexual activity or intercourse > [noun] > other specific 1969 16 July 13/4 When he had passed the circle of men, he knew an ‘onion was going on’. 1978 1 July 3/8 Woodhouse told the man the girl was to be the ‘onion’ for the night. 1984 30 Nov. 17/2 The girl alleges the traditional on-i-on or onion as it is sometimes incorrectly pronounced, by a group of motor bike riders in a disused gravel pit after several hours of riotous drinking. This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). onionv.Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: onion n.1 rare. the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > preparation for table or cooking > seasoning > season [verb (transitive)] > flavour in other ways 1755 T. Smollett tr. M. de Cervantes II. iii. xvii. 301 They treated him with an hachis of beef well onioned. 1845 E. Acton viii. 210 Currie sauce, highly onioned, is frequently served. 1939 16 Jan. 17/4 Fried steaks can be served with a curry sauce highly onioned. the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > lachrymal organs > flow [verb (transitive)] > produce tears by application of onion 1763 C. Johnstone (new ed.) I. 243 The fellow wiped his eyes which had been well onioned for the purpose. 1900 G. B. Shaw p. xxix The undertaker's handkerchief, duly onioned with some pathetic phrase. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < |
