noun
peppercorn
PEP-er-korn/ˈpepərkɔːrn/
A dried berry used as a pungent spice.
Each dried peppercorn has a dark, wrinkled surface.
Etymology
Pepper combines with corn in its older sense of a grain or seed. The compound names one dried pepper berry as a small individual grain of seasoning.
In context
We’ll be including the predictable Sichuan peppercorn, 3 tbsp worth,
More examples
- Fill the grinder with whole black peppercorns.
- Biting into a peppercorn releases a sharp, spicy flavor.
- The recipe calls for six peppercorns and a bay leaf.
Forms
peppercorn · peppercorns
Similar words
- pepper
- Names the spice generally, rather than one dried berry.