Corianderseed
/ˈkɒr.i.æn.dər siːd/noun
The dried fruit of the coriander plant, used as a culinary spice.
Did you know?The name traces to Ancient Greek κόρις (kóris), “bedbug,” because the plant’s unripe fruits were said to smell like crushed insects.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*se-
“To sow or plant seed”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόρις (kóris)
“Bedbug; the source of the plant’s odor-based name”
Ancient Greek
Greek
κορίαννον (koriannon)
“Coriander, likely named for the smell of its unripe fruits”
Ancient Latin
Latin
coriandrum
“Coriander”
Old French
Old French
coriandre
“Coriander”
Old English to Modern English
English
coriander seed
“The seed or dried fruit of the coriander plant, used as a spice”
Explore more surprising origins