cress

[kres]

noun

1. any of various plants of the mustard family, especially the watercress, having pungent-tasting leaves often used for salad and as a garnish.

2. any of various similar plants.

cress

/ krɛs /

noun

1. any of various plants of the genera Lepidium , Cardamine , Arabis , etc, having pungent-tasting leaves often used in salads and as a garnish: family Brassicaceae (crucifers) See also watercress garden cress

Other Word Forms

• cressy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cress¹

before 900; Middle English cresse, Old English cress ( a ), cresse; cognate with Dutch kers, German Kresse

Word History and Origins

Origin of cress¹

Old English cressa; related to Old High German cresso cress, kresan to crawl