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pissenlit

dandelion

noun pees-ahn-LEE Rare
Animals & Nature Plants

Origin: French pisser (to urinate) + lit (bed) — a folk reference to its diuretic property

Usage Note

Pissenlit is the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), whose young leaves are eaten in salads, especially in spring. The colourful folk etymology ('wet the bed') reflects its well-known diuretic effect. The expression manger les pissenlits par la racine humorously means to be dead and buried.

Examples

"Elle cueille des pissenlits pour la salade."

Natural Translation

She is picking dandelions for the salad.

Literal Translation

She picks dandelions for the salad.

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