radish

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)A plant of the Brassicaceae family, Raphanus sativus or Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus, having an edible root.

   “Many times they ſow divers ſeeds in a Bed together, as Radiſhes and Carrots, that by ſuch time as the Carrots come up, the Radiſhes may be gone. Upon beds newly ſet with Licorice they ſow Onions or Radiſh, or Lettice if their Licorice plants or ground be but weak, ſo as not quickly to cauſe a ſhadow with their leaves.”

   “Although hardly coming under my theme, I cannot omit this: "Against a woman's chatter: Taste at night fasting a root of radish, that day the chatter cannot harm thee."”

2. (countable, uncountable)The root of this plant used as food. Some varieties are pungent and usually eaten raw in salads, etc., while others have a milder taste and are cooked.

   “Fat people ſhould not eat freely of oily, nouriſhing diet. They ought frequently to eat radiſh, garlic, ſpices, or ſuch things as are heating, and promote perſpiration and urine.”

   “The flavors of radicchio and radish are delicious with only a touch of balsamic vinegar for a dressing.”

   “Purple shoots had grown up from the wheat seeds sown in the furrows. He fell to his knees and dug up a radish. There was a sound like a bubble popping as the thin roots parted from the earth.”

3. (countable, in-compounds, uncountable)Some other root plant of genus Raphanus or family Brassicaceae.

   “rat-tail radish (Raphanus caudatus); wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)”

   “The Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), is Edward's trophy, brought from a piece of waste ground near Hawkhurst, in Kent. The petals are white or pale lilac, veined distinctly with a deeper shade. The Sea Radish (R. maritimus,[…]), is primrose-coloured, also veined. Fanny brought it from the beautiful cliffs near Lizard Point.”

   “Radishes were something new for me. The first time I tried growing for seed, I was surprised by the shape of the pods; they looked like hot peppers. Being the curious type I nibbled on a few pods and found they were delicious when still in the immature stage. I thought I had discovered something novel when, lo and behold, I found out that radishes grown in India just for their pods—a variety called Rat-Tail radish—for many years.”