The OED Oracle has spoken!
Jun. 6th, 2003 12:33 pmThe first occasion to consult the Compact OED, graciously provided by
elisem, came this past Sunday, when a friend wanted to know why ramps (wild leeks) are called ramps. Ramp is a shortening of rampion, so all the trouble in "Rapunzel" is over wild leeks. The origins of rampion are unclear.
[Clearly, the word rampion came into use so that people could make TERRIBLE puns. See the comments on this entry if you don't believe me. --Ed.]
[Clearly, the word rampion came into use so that people could make TERRIBLE puns. See the comments on this entry if you don't believe me. --Ed.]