rapeseed

The story

1. Latin · derived fromrāpa
2. Middle English · inherited fromrape sede
3. English todayrapeseed

From Middle English rape sede, rape seed, equivalent to rape (“rapeseed plant(s)”) + seed. As a meronym for the entire plant, from the need to distinguish the plant from the etymologically unrelated verb and act rape. In this context, rape is from Latin rāpa, from rāpum (“turnip”). Not to be confused with grapeseed.