moringa
|mo-rin-ga|
/məˈrɪŋɡə/
tropical tree and its edible parts
Etymology
'moringa' originates from Portuguese (and Spanish) words 'moringa', ultimately borrowed from southern Indian languages such as Malayalam/Tamil 'murungai' (or variants like 'muringa'), where the local term referred to the tree (and its curved/thin pods).
'moringa' entered European languages via Portuguese and Spanish sailors and traders in the 16th–17th centuries after contact with South Asia; the local name 'murungai' was adapted as 'moringa' and later adopted into English botanical usage.
Initially it designated the local name for the drumstick tree in South Asia; over time the term became the formal name for the genus Moringa in botanical contexts and broadened in common English to include the tree's leaves, pods, seeds, and derived products.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
any of several trees of the genus Moringa, especially Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing tropical tree cultivated for its edible pods, leaves, and seeds.
The farm planted moringa trees to provide shade and nutritious leaves for local markets.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the edible leaves of the moringa tree, used fresh, cooked, or dried into powder as a nutritional supplement.
Moringa leaves are often added to soups or dried and ground into a high-protein powder.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/24 00:15