peppercorn

[ pep-er-kawrn ]

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.

adjective

1. (of hair) growing in tight spirals.

peppercorn

/ ˈpɛpəˌkɔːn /

noun

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

Other Words From

• pepper·cornish pepper·corny adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peppercorn¹

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

Example Sentences

The tip of the iceberg finds chicken smoked over tea leaves, cigar-length pork potstickers, crisp cabbage ignited with Sichuan peppercorns, and nugget-size steamed spareribs, coated in soft rice crumbs seasoned with five-spice powder.

From Washington Post

The sight of a tall hamburger being ferried through the long and narrow dining room has me rethinking my order, a thought dismissed as I tuck into tender hanger steak lapped with green peppercorn sauce.

From Washington Post

In NIF’s fusion experiments, 192 laser beams converge on a small cylinder containing a peppercorn-sized fuel capsule.

From Science News

Southwest China is a hub for lacto-fermented vegetables, where fresh bamboo shoots, crisp cucumbers, radishes, and carrots are quickly blanched, cut into pieces, put into a salt brine with Sichuan peppercorns, then topped with a bit of baijiu.

From Eater

That’s tequila lit with Sichuan peppercorns and subtly fruity with lemon and peach.

From Washington Post

They paid only a peppercorn rent of £70 a month (including utilities), until a 2002 review of grace-and-favour homes.

From The Daily Beast

Gravlax by Christopher Idone Sugar, salt, black peppercorn, and dill form the foundation of this classic gravlax recipe.

From The Daily Beast

Its peppercorn bullets are good for a rabbit or pheasant, but would hardly disable a man.

From Project Gutenberg

Peppercorn said he would rather gather wood and make the fire; so he went out and tumbled down some large trees with his mace.

From Project Gutenberg

Notwithstanding this, Peppercorn went resolutely down the ravine, calling aloud upon his sister by name.

From Project Gutenberg

Peppercorn waited patiently some time for the rope to be let down that he might be drawn up but no rope appeared.

From Project Gutenberg

But Peppercorn said to her, ‘Don’t trouble yourself about me, only let me rest near you a little, for I am very tired.

From Project Gutenberg