Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A fennel cultivar with a bulb-like structure at its base, used as a vegetable; Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum).
  • noun derogatory slang A male homosexual. (in β-forms, rare) A lesbian.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun aromatic bulbous stem base eaten cooked or raw in salads

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian, from Latin fēniculum, fennel, diminutive of faenum, fēnum, hay; see dhē(i)- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Italian finocchio ("fennel”, (derogatory): “male homosexual").

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Examples

  • Florentine fennel, also known as finocchio by Italian cooks, looks like a flattened bunch of celery with a bulbous base and feathery green leaves.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Fennel: Florentine fennel, also called finocchio, resembles a pregnant bunch of celery.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Florentine fennel, also known as finocchio by Italian cooks, looks like a flattened bunch of celery with a bulbous base and feathery green leaves.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Florentine fennel, also known as finocchio by Italian cooks, looks like a flattened bunch of celery with a bulbous base and feathery green leaves.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Fennel: Florentine fennel, also called finocchio, resembles a pregnant bunch of celery.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Florentine fennel, also known as finocchio by Italian cooks, looks like a flattened bunch of celery with a bulbous base and feathery green leaves.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Florentine fennel, also known as finocchio by Italian cooks, looks like a flattened bunch of celery with a bulbous base and feathery green leaves.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Fennel: Florentine fennel, also called finocchio, resembles a pregnant bunch of celery.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Fennel: Florentine fennel, also called finocchio, resembles a pregnant bunch of celery.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

  • Fennel: Florentine fennel, also called finocchio, resembles a pregnant bunch of celery.

    Make It Easy Make It Light Laurie Burrows Grad 1987

Comments

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  • Italian - 1. fennel; 2. queer, gay, poof.

    April 18, 2008

  • Believe me, there is a reason.

    April 18, 2008

  • when has it been used in the second sense?

    April 18, 2008

  • It's used in the second sense often. Consider the lyrics of the brilliant song La Legge Giusta:

    "...

    Un giorno sul ponte di Messina

    Passeremo con le jeep

    E ricorderai che non si scherza

    con chi decide e chi comanda

    Con i tuoi amici marocchini

    E quei finocchi intellettuali

    Farete meglio a stare zitti

    Se tenete alla vostra testa

    ..."

    - La Legge Giusta, Modena City Ramblers. Finocchi's at about 2:41 on the video if you're listening.

    April 18, 2008

  • So now I should quote, let's say, Nick Cave.

    April 18, 2008

  • Really, Pro--you don't have to. ;-)

    April 18, 2008

  • I'm dying to hear Nick Cave's gothic finocchio ode of woe.

    April 19, 2008