'asparagus' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'asparagus', where Greek 'asparagos' meant 'sprout' or 'shoot'.

'asparagos' (Greek) passed into Late Latin as 'asparagus', entered Old French in forms like 'asperge', and appeared in Middle English as 'asparragus', eventually becoming the modern English 'asparagus'.

Initially, it meant 'young shoot' or 'sprout', and this core meaning has largely been retained into modern English as the plant and its edible shoots.