lady's finger
C1Informal / Culinary / Common
Definition
Meaning
The edible seed pod of the okra plant, used as a vegetable, known for its slender, finger-like shape.
Primarily refers to the vegetable okra. Can also refer to the small, finger-shaped ladyfinger sponge cakes or biscuits, and is a common name for a slender variety of grape or eggplant in some regions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is polysemous. In North American and some European culinary contexts, it predominantly refers to okra, the green seed pod. In British and Commonwealth baking contexts, it more commonly refers to the small, light sponge fingers used in desserts like tiramisu.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the primary meaning is often the sponge biscuit. In the US, the primary meaning is the vegetable okra.
Connotations
UK: Desserts, baking, tea-time. US: Southern cuisine, gumbo, stews.
Frequency
Moderately frequent in culinary writing in both varieties; 'okra' is the more common term for the vegetable in the US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Prep P] in gumbo[Prep P] with tomatoes[Prep P] as a vegetableVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As slender as a lady's finger (rare)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in trade and agricultural export contexts (e.g., 'shipment of frozen lady's finger').
Academic
Used in botanical or culinary studies to refer to specific cultivars or plant morphology.
Everyday
Common in grocery lists, recipes, and general food conversation.
Technical
May be used in botanical texts (Abelmoschus esculentus) or food science.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She lady's-fingered the dessert with sponge biscuits.
adjective
British English
- We need a lady's-finger sponge for the base.
American English
- He grows a lady's-finger variety of okra.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I bought some green lady's finger at the market.
- The recipe calls for lady's finger, but you can use okra instead.
- She layered the tiramisu with coffee-soaked lady's fingers and mascarpone cream.
- The slimy texture of lady's finger when cooked is due to its mucilaginous content, which acts as a thickener in stews.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a delicate lady's hand. The vegetable (okra) is as long and slender as a finger, and the biscuit is shaped like one.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHAPE IS FUNCTION (finger-like shape defines the name).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'дамский палец' or 'пальчики' (lady's fingers) for cookies/biscuits; context is key.
- The vegetable is 'окра' or 'бамия'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ladies' fingers' or 'lady fingers' (both are common variants).
- Using the term without context, leading to confusion between the vegetable and the biscuit.
Practice
Quiz
In British English, 'lady's finger' most commonly refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a term for the vegetable okra or for a type of slender sponge biscuit, depending on context.
Yes, 'lady's finger' is a common name for the okra vegetable, especially outside of North America.
The name comes from the vegetable's (or biscuit's) long, slender, finger-like shape.
In a recipe for a savoury dish, yes, they are the same thing. In a dessert recipe, 'lady's fingers' refers to the sponge biscuits, not the vegetable.