peppercorn

American  

[pep-er-kawrn] / ˈpɛp ərˌkɔrn /

noun

1. the berry of the pepper plant, Piper nigrum, dried and used as a condiment, in pickling, etc.

2. anything very small or insignificant.

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adjective

1. (of hair) growing in tight spirals.

peppercorn British  

/ ˈpɛpəˌkɔːn /

noun

1. the small dried berry of the pepper plant ( Piper nigrum )

2. something trifling

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Other Word Forms

• peppercornish adjective
• peppercorny adjective

Etymology

Origin of peppercorn

before 1000; Middle English pepercorn; Old English piporcorn. See pepper, corn ¹

Example Sentences

The real zing comes from her addition of toasted and crushed Sichuan peppercorns.

From The Wall Street Journal

Revelations Andrew was living in a 30-room mansion in Windsor on a yearly rent of “one peppercorn” have seen calls for greater transparency and the prospect of a public accounts committee inspecting royal funding arrangements.

From The Wall Street Journal

And the powerful Public Accounts Committee has been demanding answers over Andrew paying only a peppercorn rent at his home in Windsor.

From BBC

He paid an annual rent of “one peppercorn,” according to details of the lease, triggering questions from British lawmakers about why a nonworking royal appeared to be getting subsidized housing.

From The Wall Street Journal

The arrangement means he has only ever paid a "peppercorn" rent on Royal Lodge, and even that might not be required under his deal with the Crown Estate, a document seen by BBC News confirms.

From BBC