ciorchine

Where it comes from

Unknown. There are several etymologies proposed, and no single one can be said to be far ahead of the others in terms of getting majority preference yet. Pușcariu and Densușianu proposed a derivation from a Vulgar Latin root *circ[u]lina, from Latin circulus, with an Italian dialectal word as the main evidence, a word which referred to "inflorescence of walnut trees and oak trees" and which derives from Latin circellus.

Another etymology derives it from Romanian cioc, citing the Italian word ciocca (“bunch of grapes; bunch of leaves; tuft/bunch/lock of hair”). Italian ciocca is of unclear origin; an Italian etymological dictionary derives it from a Slavic word which could be cognate to Romanian ciuc, hence the similar meanings of ciocca and Romanian ciuc ("tuft of hair", etc.). A more recent etymology derives ciorchine from ciochină, an old Romanian word for the back part of a horse saddle which was essentially an eminence to which packs and items were attached, often in a bunch, and ciochină itself may derive from cioc/ciuc. There are additional etymologies as well.