pepper
UK: ˈpepə | US: ˈpepər
n. 1. A pungent aromatic spice made from dried berries of the Piperaceae family, used to flavor food.
n. 2. Any plant of the genus Capsicum (e.g., bell pepper, chili pepper).
vt. To sprinkle or season with pepper.
The word "pepper" traces back to Old English pipor, borrowed from Latin piper, which itself derives from Greek peperi (likely via trade routes from Sanskrit pippali, meaning "berry" or "long pepper"). The term originally referred to the black pepper berry (Piper nigrum), a highly valued spice in ancient trade. Over time, it expanded to include unrelated plants like chili peppers after European contact with the Americas. The morpheme pepp- preserves the core idea of a spicy berry, while -er is a common noun-forming suffix in English.
She ground fresh black pepper over her pasta.
Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C.
The chef peppered the steak generously.
Indian cuisine often uses a mix of pepper and other spices.
Chili peppers add heat to many dishes.