a cultivated plant, Lactuca sativa, occurring in many varieties and having succulent leaves used for salads.
2.
any species of Lactuca.
3.
Slang. U.S. dollar bills; greenbacks.
Origin: 1250–1300; 1925–30 for def. 3;ME letuse, appar. < OF laitues, pl. of laitue < L lactūca a lettuce, perh. deriv. of lac, s. lact- milk, with termination as in erūcarocket2(or by assoc. with Gk galaktoûchos having milk)
Any of various plants of the genus Lactuca, especially L. sativa, cultivated for their edible leaves.
The leaves of L. sativa, used especially in salads.
Slang Paper money.
[Middle English lettuse, from Old French laitues, pl. of laitue, from Latin lactūca, from lac, lact-, milk (from its milky juice); see melg- in Indo-European roots.]
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
lettuce
c.1290, from O.Fr. laitues, pl. of laitue, from L. lactuca "lettuce," from lac (gen. lactis) "milk" (see lactation); so called in allusion to the milky juice of the plant.