sesame

Meanings

Plural: sesames

Noun

East Indian annual erect herb; source of sesame seed or benniseed and sesame oil
A tropical Asian plant (Sesamum indicum) bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
The seed of this plant.

Origin / Etymology

From late Middle English sisamie, from Latin sīsamum, sēsamum, from Ancient Greek σήσαμον (sḗsamon), from Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššumā), from Akkadian 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, “oil plant”), compound of 𒉌𒄑 (šaman, “oil”) and 𒌑 (šammum, “plant”). The modern pronunciation is perhaps influenced by (transliterations of) Greek σησάμη (sisámi). Doublet of sesamum.

Synonyms

beniseed, benne, benni, benny, gingelly, sesame seed, Sesamum indicum

Scrabble Score: 8

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

Words With Friends Score: 9

sesame is a valid Words With Friends word