petroselinum
/ˌpɛtrəʊsɪˈlʌɪn(ə)m/ /ˌpɛtrəʊsɪˈliːn(ə)m/noun
Originally: parsley, especially garden parsley, Petroselinum crispum (now historical ). In later use (in form Petroselinum): a small genus of plants of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) native to Europe and western Asia, the chief members of which are garden parsley and wild or corn parsley, P. segetum.
- Valid publication of the genus name: J. Hill British Herbal (1756) 424..
Origin
Old English; earliest use found in Pseudo-Apuleius' Herbarium. From classical Latin petroselīnum parsley (also post-classical Latin petrosilinum) from Hellenistic Greek πετροσέλινον from ancient Greek πέτρα rock + σέλινον celery.