Definition

Noun 1. A variety of head lettuce: Bibb lettuce is a specific type of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata). It is characterized by forming a small, loose head of tender, sweet leaves that are often a darker green on the outside and lighter yellow-green at the heart.

Usage

• Bibb lettuce is primarily used as a salad green.
• It is valued for its delicate texture and mild, slightly sweet flavor, which makes it suitable for more refined salads where the lettuce itself is a feature.
• Due to its tender leaves, it is less suitable for cooking or for salads requiring very crisp, sturdy greens like Caesar salad.

Examples

• "For the salad, I prefer the soft texture of bibb lettuce over iceberg."
• "The chef garnished the plate with a few leaves of fresh bibb lettuce."
• "This variety, often sold as bibb lettuce, is perfect for a simple vinaigrette."

Advanced Usage

• Culinary distinction: In gourmet cooking, specifying "bibb lettuce" indicates a choice for a premium, tender green, often used in composed salads or as a bed for delicate proteins like poached fish or scallops.
• "Boston bibb": This is a common market name for this lettuce type, referencing both its common name (Bibb) and its similarity to Boston lettuce, another butterhead variety.

Variants and Related Words

• Butterhead lettuce (n): The broader category of lettuce to which bibb lettuce belongs, all characterized by soft, buttery-textured leaves.
• Boston lettuce (n): A very similar, often interchangeable variety of butterhead lettuce. The terms "Boston" and "Bibb" are frequently used synonymously, though purists note slight differences in head size and leaf darkness.
• Loose-leaf lettuce (n): A category of lettuce that does not form a tight head, which includes varieties like oak leaf and red leaf. Bibb forms a loose head, placing it between tight-head (like iceberg) and truly loose-leaf varieties.

Synonyms

• Butter lettuce: A general synonym for butterhead varieties, including bibb.
• Boston lettuce: As noted, a very close synonym often used interchangeably in markets and recipes.

Notes on Meaning

The term "bibb lettuce" refers specifically to the plant variety itself. Its defining characteristics are its botanical classification (a butterhead) and its culinary properties (tender, sweet leaves forming a small, loose head). It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. lettuce with relatively crisp leaves