scallion

UK: /ˈskæljən/ US: /ˈskæljən/ ,(skal′yən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scal•lion /ˈskælyən/   n. [countable]

1. Plant Biology an onion that does not form a large bulb.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scal•lion  (skal′yən), n. 

1. Plant Biology any onion that does not form a large bulb;
   green onion.
2. Plant Biology a shallot.
3. Plant Biology a leek.

• Vulgar Latin, as above
• Anglo-French scaloun
• Vulgar Latin *escalonia, variant of Latin Ascalōnia (caepa) onion of Ascalon, a seaport of Palestine; replacing Middle English scalone, scaloun
• Old French *escaloigne
• late Middle English scalyon(e) 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scallion / ˈskæljən/ noun

1. any of various onions or similar plants, such as the spring onion, that have a small bulb and long leaves and are eaten in salads

Etymology: 14th Century: from Anglo-French scalun, from Latin Ascalōnia (caepa) Ascalonian (onion), from Ascalo Ascalon, a Palestinian port