Definition of PEPPERCORN

peppercorn

Meanings

Plural: peppercorns

Noun

  • pungent seasoning from the berry of the common pepper plant of East India; use whole or ground
  • The seeds of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, commonly used as a spice, usually ground or crushed.
  • A small, insignificant quantity; a whit or jot.
  • A small, insignificant quantity; a whit or jot.
  • A nominal consideration used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract.

Origin / Etymology

Inherited from Middle English peper corn, peper-corn, pepercorn, from Old English piporcorn (“peppercorn”), corresponding to pepper + corn. Compare Dutch peperkorrel (“peppercorn”), German Pfefferkorn (“peppercorn”), Danish peberkorn (“peppercorn”), Swedish pepparkorn (“peppercorn”), Icelandic piparkorn (“peppercorn”).

Synonyms

pepper

Scrabble Score: 18

peppercorn is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
peppercorn is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
peppercorn is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 23

peppercorn is a valid Words With Friends word