chicory

Noun

chicory (countable and uncountable, plural chicories)

1. (countable) Either of two plants of the Asteraceae family.
   • Endive—is another species of chicory, and a native of the East Indies. It was introduced into this country in 1548, is a hardy annual, requires a rich soil to secure its rapid maturity, and is blanched by tying up the leaves when it has attained its full growth. [...] It is used as a salad, ragout...1843, William Davidson, “Vegetables. [Chicory or Succory—Endive.]”, in A Treatise on Diet, Comprising the Natural History, Properties, Composition, Adulterations and Uses of the Vegetables, Animals...
   • The eating is beautiful; that must be allowed. Two soups, three fishes, five roast chickens, and a piece of veal, stewed with cherries; a dish of chops with chickory, and a meat-pie garnished with cockscombs— [...]1854, Charles Lever, “Letter II. Mrs. Dodd to Mistress Mary Gallagher, at Dodsborough.”, in The Dodd Family Abroad, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 5
   1. (UK) Common chicory (Cichorium intybus), source of Belgian endive, radicchio, and certain other cultivars with other names.
      • sugarloaf chicory
      • I sent you the chiccory seed for trial, as it is so highly spoken of by A. Young and other British writers, [...] In foreign countries an imitation of coffee is made, by grinding the dried and burnt roots, and mixing a little real coffee wih the ground roots.1815 June, Richard Peters, “Original Letter from Judge Peters of Pennsylvania, with Remarks on the Culture of Chiccory, the Mangel Wurtzel or Scarcity Root, &c. [Addressed to the Hon. Josiah Quincy...
   2. (Canada, US) Endive (Cichorium endivia), the source of escarole and frisée.
      • The leaves of the cultivated chicory, endive, when blanched, form an ingredient in early spring salads.1821, A. F. M. Willich, Thomas Cooper, “CHICORIUM INTUBUS”, in The Domestic Encyclopedia; or, Dictionary of Facts and Useful Knowledge, Chiefly Applicable to Rural & Domestic Economy. […] In Three...
      • In the beginning of May, 1870, we sowed some seed of this Dandelion in a well prepared bed, in which the roots could easily develope themselves without meeting with any obstacle. The young plants soon appeared above ground, and in autumn we were able to cut from them great quantities of long and...1873 January 11, “The Kitchen Garden. [Improved Dandelion.]”, in William Robinson, editor, The Garden: An Illustrated Weekly Journal of Gardening in All Its Branches, volume III, London: Office, 37...
2. (uncountable) A coffee substitute made from the roasted roots of the common chicory, sometimes used as a cheap adulterant in real coffee.
   • The Coffee planters have invariably waged war against the use of Chicory, under the conscientious conviction that every ounce of Chicory consumed in England displaced an ounce of their Coffee in the market. [...] That the prudent, sensible, moderate use of Chicory has been abused, there can be no...1829, William Law, “Letter V. A Chapter on Chicory.”, in The History of Coffee, including a Chapter on Chicory, London; Edinburgh: Reprinted by William and George Law, […], published 1850, →OCLC...
   • Whatever be the discoverable properties and applications of the dandelion tribe of vegetables, our object in the meanwhile is to see what part chicory is made to perform in the preparation and sale of coffee. [...] Of the flavour of the pure infusion of chicory we have already spoken: it was that...1849 April 7, “The Outcry about Chicory”, in William, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, volume XI, number 275 (New Series), Edinburgh: Published by William and Robert Chambers...