poppy seed

American  

noun

1. seed of the poppy plant, used as an ingredient or topping for breads, rolls, cakes, and cookies.

---

poppy seed British  

noun

1. the small grey seeds of one type of poppy flower, used esp on loaves and as a cake filling

---

Etymology

Origin of poppy seed

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

The intriguing markings, nicknamed leopard spots and poppy seeds, contain minerals produced by chemical reactions that could be associated with ancient microbes.

From BBC

The “New York” part of the dish comes with the addition of chopped herbs and either poppy seeds or everything-bagel seasoning to the batter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Straight from my grandmother’s recipe card: melted butter, grainy Dijon, a dollop of mayo, a splash of Worcestershire, garlic and onion powders, a little brown sugar, and a shower of poppy seeds.

From Salon

The mudstones, found in a dusty riverbed by Nasa's Perseverance Rover, are dotted with intriguing markings nicknamed leopard spots and poppy seeds.

From BBC

Many humans are infected when they’re nipped by nymph ticks, a period in their life cycle when they’re roughly the size of a poppy seed and barely visible to the naked eye.

From Los Angeles Times