ジャガイモ
Japanese
ジャガイモ
Etymology
Abbreviation of ジャガタラ (jagatara) + 芋 (imo, “potato”).
ジャガタラ is a corruption of Dutch Djakarta, from Indonesian Jakarta, from Old Javanese jayakarta (“victorious deed, complete act, complete victory”).
The potato was first introduced to Japan via the Dutch East Indies, hence the Jakarta connection.
Noun
ジャガイモ (kanji ジャガ芋, hiragana じゃがいも, romaji jagaimo)
- the potato, Solanum tuberosum: the plant or its edible tuber