Spicy
/ˈspaɪ.si/noun
Having a hot, pungent flavor from spices; also used figuratively for something lively or risqué.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *species*, meaning “goods” or “sorts,” the same root behind *species* and *specimen* — because spices were once treated like precious, almost magical commodities.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spek-
“to observe, look at”
Latin
Latin
species
“appearance, sort, kind; later also goods or merchandise”
Late Latin
Latin
spicea / species
“a spice or aromatic substance”
Old French
Old French
espice
“spice”
Middle English
English
spicy
“having the flavor or quality of spice”
Modern English
English
spicy
“having a hot, pungent flavor; figuratively lively or risqué”