Irish moss

American  

noun

1. a purplish-brown, cartilaginous seaweed, Chondrus crispus, of the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.

---

Irish moss British  

noun

1. another name for carrageen

---

Etymology

Origin of Irish moss

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

If you aren't near the European coast, making classic, legitimate Irish moss pudding at home might be a bit of a challenge.

From Salon

For us, sea moss is Irish moss or Irish moss-bladderwrack mix.

From Los Angeles Times

"When I came to Maine, a colleague who was a native Mainer gave me her handed-down family recipes for how to collect, clean, and prepare Irish moss, as well as a pudding recipe."

From Salon

I burned a lot of Irish moss around the house.

From New York Times

Shoppers, many of whom are celebrities or at least good-looking enough to be one, may be seen taking Irish moss as a blood purifier and considering gin’s effect on the skin.

From Los Angeles Times