Pimiento
/ˌpiːmɛnˈtoʊ/noun
A mild chili pepper, especially a small, sweet red pepper used fresh or stuffed.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes from Spanish, and the pepper itself was part of the post-Columbian global exchange that remade cuisines, trade, and even medicine.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian Americas
Indigenous
(various native names)
“Native peoples of the Americas cultivated and named many chili peppers before European contact.”
16th Century
Spanish
pimiento
“Pepper; later also a sweet red pepper or pimento.”
16th Century
Spanish
pimienta
“Pepper, especially black pepper; also used more generally for pungent seasonings.”
Late 16th Century
English
pimento
“A type of pepper, especially the sweet red pepper used in cooking.”