Etymology Dictionary

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE,  a kind of sunflower.  (Ital.,—L.)   'There is a soup called Palestine soup.   It is made, I believe, of artichokes called Jerusalem artichokes, but the Jerusalem artichoke is so called from a mere misunderstanding.   The artichoke, being a kind of sun-flower, was called in Italian girasole, from the Latin gyrus, circle, and sol, sun.   Hence Jerusalem artichokes and Palestine soups!'   Max Müller, Lect. on Language, 8th ed. ii. 404.—Ital. girasole, a sun-flower.—Ital. girare, to turn; and sole, sun.—Lat. gyrare, to turn round, from gyras (= Gk. γῦρος), a circle; and solem, acc. of sol, sun.   See Gyre and Solar.