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colander

 - 3 dictionary results

col⋅an⋅der

[kuhl-uhn-der, kol-]
–noun
a metal or plastic container with a perforated bottom, for draining and straining foods.
Also, cullender.


Origin:
1400–50; late ME colyndore, perh. (with nasalization) < OPr colador < ML cōlātōrium, equiv. to L cōlā(re) to strain (v. deriv. of cōlum strainer) + -tōrium -tory 2
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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col·an·der   (kŭl'ən-dər, kŏl'-)   


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n.  A bowl-shaped kitchen utensil with perforations for draining off liquids and rinsing food.

[Middle English colyndore; probably from a Romance source akin to Old Provençal colador, strainer, from Vulgar Latin cōlātōr, from Latin cōlātus, past participle of cōlāre, to strain; see percolate.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

colander 
1368, probably alt. from M.L. colatorium "strainer" (with parasitic -n-) from L. colatus, pp. of colare "to strain," from colum "sieve." Fr. cognate is couloir, Sp. colador, It. colatojo.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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