neep

noun

ˈnēp 

chiefly Scotland

: turnip

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nepe, neep, going back to Old English (West Saxon) nǣp,(non-West Saxon) nēp, borrowed from Latin nāpus, of uncertain origin

Note: The substitution of Old English ǣ/ē for Latin ā must have taken place before West Germanic *ai became Old English ā. — Latin nāpus has on the basis of sound been compared with Greek nâpy "mustard," another plant with edible greens. The Greek word is most likely substratal, having a longer by-form sínāpi, which would result in nāp- if the first vowel were dropped and *snāp- became nāp-. R. Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek) suggests pre-Greek *synāpV, with an initial consonant cluster with a palatalized element, which could give either sinap- or *snap-. Assuming a substratal foundation, the Latin word may ultimately have the same origin if the etymon was applied to plants with edible greens or tubers.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above