buckwheat

buckwheat · noun¹

1. Middle Dutch · borrowed fromboecweit
2. Middle Low German · derived frombōkwête“beech-wheat”
3. English todaybuckwheat

Ultimately from Middle Low German bōkwête (“beech-wheat”) (so called because of its triangular seeds, which resemble the much larger seeds of the beech nut from the beech tree, and the fact that it is used like wheat), probably via Middle Dutch boecweit, boecweite. Compare German Buchweizen. Despite the name, buckwheat is not related to wheat, as it is not a grass.

Buckwheat · proper noun²

After a character from the Little Rascals comedy films, from buckwheat. Popularized by politician Corey Poitier in March 2010 though attestations exist as early as February 2008.