'arugola' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'rucola,' where the root referred to the wild rocket plant.

'arugola' derived from Italian 'rucola', ultimately from Latin 'eruca' (meaning 'cabbage' or 'cole'), and entered English as 'arugula'/'arugola' through culinary usage and borrowing.

Initially it meant 'wild rocket' (a plant); over time it has retained that sense and is now used specifically for the peppery salad green 'arugula/arugola'.