Origin: 1965–70; appar. < an Upper It dial. form, akin to Lombard arigola, Venetian rucola < L ērūca name for Eruca sativa (cf. It ruca), with dim. suffix -ola < L -ula-ule; cf. rocket2
a·ru·gu·la (ə-rōō'gə-lə) n. A Mediterranean plant (Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa) having flowers with purple-veined, yellowish-white petals and pungent, edible leaves. Also called rocket2, rocket salad, roquette.
[Probably Italian dialectal, from Latin ērūca, cabbage.]