Fennel is a plant with a crisp rounded base and feathery leaves. It can be eaten as a vegetable or the leaves can be used as a herb.
fennel in British English
(ˈfɛnəl)
noun
1.
a strong-smelling yellow-flowered umbelliferous plant, Foeniculum vulgare, whose seeds and feathery leaves are used to season and flavour food
See also finocchio
2. another name for mayweed
Word origin
Old English fenol, from Latin faeniculum fennel, diminutive of faenum hay
fennel in American English
(ˈfɛnəl)
noun
a tall herb (Foeniculum vulgare) of the umbel family, with feathery leaves and yellow flowers: its foliage and aromatic seeds are used to flavor foods and medicines
Word origin
ME fenel < OE finul < L faeniculum, dim. of faenum, earlier fenum, hay