Peppercorn
/ˈpɛp.ər.kɔːrn/noun
A dried berry of the pepper plant, especially when used whole as a spice.
Did you know?In medieval Europe, pepper was so valuable it was sometimes treated almost like money, which is why the word survived as a symbol of something small but precious.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peper-
“A spicy or pungent plant root associated with pepper-like heat.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέπερι (pépéri)
“Pepper, the pungent spice.”
Latin
Latin
piper
“Pepper.”
Old English
Old English
pipor
“Pepper.”
Middle English
English
pepercorn
“A pepper berry; later, a nominal or token rent paid in pepper.”
Modern English
English
peppercorn
“A dried berry of the pepper plant.”