1753, earlier tomate (c. 1600), from Spanish tomate (mid-16c.) from Nahuatl (Aztecan) tomatl "a tomato," said to mean literally "the swelling fruit," from tomana "to swell." Spelling probably influenced by potato (1565). Slang meaning "an attractive girl" is recorded from 1929, on notion of juicy plumpness.
A member of the nightshade family, all of which contain poisonous alkaloids. Introduced in Europe from the New World, by 1550 they regularly were consumed in Italy but grown only as ornamental plants in England and not eaten there or in the U.S. at first. An encyclopedia of 1753 describes it as "a fruit eaten either stewed or raw by the Spaniards and Italians and by the Jew families of England." Introduced in U.S. 1789 as part of a program by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, but not commonly eaten until after c. 1830.
Alternative name love apple and alleged aphrodisiac qualities have not been satisfactorily explained; perhaps from Italian name pomodoro, taken as from adorare "to adore," but probably rather from d'or "of gold" (in reference to color) or de Moro "of the Moors."
双语例句
1. There'snothing like fresh basil to put a zing into a tomato sauce.
在番茄沙司中无论加入什么都不如加一点儿新鲜的紫苏更能提味。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Norman cut open his pie and squirted tomato sauce into it.
诺尔曼切开自己的派，往里面挤了点番茄酱。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Scatter the tomato over, then dress the salad.
把西红柿散放在上面，然后给色拉加调味汁。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Berti's clear tomato soup is deliciously light.