Zucchini (N.American/Australian English) and Courgette (New Zealand/British English)…2 very different names for the same summer squash. Where did such vastly different names come from?
“Zucchini, like all summer squash, has its ancestry in the Americas. While most summer squash ― including the closely related cocozelle, and marrow ― were introduced to Europe during the time of European colonization of the Americas, zucchini is European in origin, the result of spontaneously occurring mutations (also called “sports”). In all probability, this occurred in the very late 19th century, probably near Milan; early varieties usually included the names of nearby cities in their name. The alternate name Courgette comes from the French name of the fruit, with the same spelling, and is used in France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. It is a diminutive of courge, French for squash. “Zucca” is the Italian word for squash; while the feminine diminutive plural “zucchine” is preferred in most regions of Italy, the masculine diminutive plural “zucchini” is used in some areas of Italy,
The name Courgette comes from the French name of the fruit. It is a diminutive of courge, French for squash. When foods were introduced into Europe from the “new world” they were often given the name of similar food in each country. “Zucca” is the Italian word for squash; while the feminine diminutive plural “zucchine” is preferred in most regions of Italy. I didn’t find a reference to what it was originally called in the Americas, but the answer would be a different question.
