lettuce

From Middle English letuse, of uncertain precise origin, probably from the plural form Old French laitues, derived from Latin lactūca (“lettuce”), from lac (“milk”), because of the milky fluid in its stalks. Replaced Old English lēahtric.

(money): Likely from the green color of US banknotes.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛtɪs/, /ˈlɛtəs/
• (General American)IPA^(key): [ˈlɛɾɪs], [ˈlɛɾəs]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: Lettice
• Rhymes: -ɛtɪs
• (Philippine) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛtus/

lettuce (countable and uncountable, plural lettuces)

1. An edible plant, Lactuca sativa and its close relatives, having a head of green and/or purple leaves.

   Synonym: sleepwort

2. (uncountable) The leaves of the lettuce plant, eaten as a vegetable; as a dish often mixed with other ingredients, dressing etc.

   I’ll have a ham sandwich with lettuce and tomato.

3. (uncountable, US, slang) United States paper currency; dollars.
   • 1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 26:

     To steady himself he counts the money left in his wallet. Seventy-three; today was payday. Fingering so much lettuce strengthens his nerves.

   Synonyms: cabbage, greenbacks

   Twenty dollars an hour? That's a lot of lettuce!

4. A strong yellow-green colour, like that of lettuce (also called lettuce green).

   lettuce:  

5. (uncountable, slang) weed or marijuana
6. (uncountable, slang) long hair, as worn by an exemplar of bro culture

• cabbage

• culette