Meaning

noun aggregate bulb of the multiplier onion

noun type of onion plant producing small clustered mild-flavored bulbs used as seasoning

noun small mild-flavored onion-like or garlic-like clustered bulbs used for seasoning

originBorrowed from French échalote, from Middle French eschalote, alteration of Old French eschaloigne, from Medieval Latin escalonia, from Latin ascalonia (cēpa) (“onion of Ashkelon”). Doublet of scallion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0