rocambolen.

Etymology: < French rocambole sand leek, also the bulb of this plant (1680), something which provides piquancy or zest (although this is first attested slightly later than in English: 1705), of uncertain origin; perhaps < German regional Rockenbolle (although this is apparently first attested later than in English or French: 1761 or earlier; also Rockenboll , Rockenpolle ), which is itself of uncertain origin. The German word may show a compound < Rocken rye n.¹ + Bolle onion (15th cent., but rare before 18th cent.; now regional and colloquial; of uncertain origin, probably < Italian cipolla onion (see chibol n.) with elision of the first syllable, but associated with Bolle round object (e.g. ball, bead), bud (see bowl n.¹) at an early date); if this etymology is correct, the plant may perhaps have been so called because young rye shoots are very juicy and green. Alternatively, the German word may in fact (as suggested by the chronology) show a borrowing < French, in which case the latter remains of unknown origin. See further Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch at Rockenbolle. In forms rockanbowl, rockenbole probably after the German word.The sense ‘something which provides piquancy or zest’ is a transferred use originating in the fact that the plant has a sharp, pungent aroma. The β. forms probably show vocalization of the final -l.