celery

What it means

1. uncountableusuallyA European herb (Apium graveolens) of the carrot family.
2. uncountableusuallyfoodThe stalks of this herb eaten as a vegetable.

   In eighteenth century France celery soup was a means of whetting the amorous appetite.

   1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 58

3. uncountableusuallyA yellow-green colour, like that of a celery.

In a sentence

In eighteenth century France celery soup was a means of whetting the amorous appetite.

1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 58

Where it comes from

1. Ancient Greekσέλῑνον
2. Latinselīnum
3. Lombardselleri
4. Frenchcéleri
5. Englishcelery

From French céleri, from Lombard selleri, a plural of Latin selīnum, from Ancient Greek σέλῑνον (sélīnon). Displaced English march (“celery, smallage”) and smallage (“wild celery”).