ˈpepə n. & v. --n. 1 a a
hot aromatic condiment from the dried berries of
certain plants used
whole or ground. b
any climbing
vine of the
genus Piper,
esp. P. nigrum,
yielding these berries. 2
anything hot or
pungent. 3 a any
plant of the genus
Capsicum, esp. C. annuum. b the
fruit of
this used esp. as a
vegetable or
salad ingredient. 4 =
CAYENNE. --v.tr. 1
sprinkle or
treat with or as if with pepper. 2 a pelt with missiles. b
hurl abuse etc.
at. 3
punish severely. øblack pepper the
unripe ground or whole berries of Piper nigrum as a condiment.
green pepper the unripe fruit of Capsicum annuum. pepper-mill a
device for grinding pepper by
hand. pepper-pot 1 a
small container with a perforated
lid for
sprinkling pepper. 2 a W.
Indian dish of
meat etc. stewed with cayenne pepper. 3 colloq. a Jamaican.
red (or yellow) pepper the
ripe fruit of Capsicum annuum.
sweet pepper a pepper with a relatively
mild taste.
white pepper the ripe or husked ground or whole berries of Piper nigrum as a condiment. [OE piper, pipor f. L piper f. Gk peperi f. Skr. pippaliberry, peppercorn]
