Dictionary

finocchio en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• fĭnŏʹkĭō (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fɪˈnɒkɪəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• fĭnōʹkĭō (Received-Pronunciation)
• /fɪˈnəʊkɪəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian finocchio (“fennel; (derogatory) male homosexual”). Doublet of fennel and finook.

Meanings

1. A fennel cultivar with a bulb-like structure at its base, used as a vegetable; Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum).
   • For the first time, finocchio, or Florence fennel, has performed for me as it should and has swollen out into bulbous protrusions at the base of its leaf stalks. 1981, Country Life, volume 170, page 1,057:
   • Also called Florence fennel, finocchio has long been a popular vegetable in Europe but has somehow fallen out of circulation from most American gardens. 1994, B. Rosie Lerner, Beverly S. Netzhammer, Possum in the Pawpaw Tree: A Seasonal Guide to Midwestern Gardening, page 43:
   • Finocchios are shoots of the fennel, an odoriferous plant of the Umbelliferae family. 1974, Ali-Bab (author) and Elizabeth Benson (translator), Encyclopedia of Practical Gastronomy, page 41
   • The strong anise odor of finocchio repels many insects from other vegetables. 1983, Theodore James, The Gourmet Garden, page 44:
2. (derogatory, slang) A gay man.
   • Not to mention, he and Julie were finocchios; but at least Larry was a smart finocchio. 2009, Paul MacKenzie, Redemption Comes to Brooklyn, page 172:
   • On many, a cold freezing night, of temperatures hovering near zero, the finocchios tease and try to encourage Tedesco to join in their warm body orgies. 2008, Edward Anthony Gibbons, A Cultural Affair, page 6:
   • Salvatore Maranzano: Rumour is you two are a pair of finocchi. 2011 August 19, Jane Espenson, Torchwood: Miracle Day, episode 7: “Immortal Sins”, 23:51–23:57
   • “Don’ stand next to any finocchios who might try’n grab your best friend,” Vin cracked. Richie roared as Tony made his way to the men’s room. 2010, Suzanne Corso, Brooklyn Story, page 182:

Forms

Synonyms

Florence fennel

Translations (4)

fi salaattifenkoli (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum) · pl pedał (male homosexual) · el φινόκιο (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum) · pl fenkuł włoski azorski (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum)