What did the Taíno word *batata* specifically refer to?
Answer
The sweet potato
The Taíno word *batata*, which eventually evolved into the Spanish *patata* and then 'potato,' actually referred specifically to the sweet potato.
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What is perhaps the most well-known informal substitute for "potato"?Which scientific term describes the potato based on its biological classification?What is one suggested origin for the nickname "spud"?Where does the original word "potato" trace its roots back to?Which archaic or historical designation arose from comparing the tuber to a fruit grown in soil?What context does the use of the term "tater" immediately suggest in a sentence?Which common synonym for potato might cause a slight disconnect for a non-North American audience?What did the Taíno word *batata* specifically refer to?In which specific context would the technical term "tuber" be the most fitting choice?What does the variation in potato naming ultimately reveal about our connection to this crop?