water chestnut

American  

noun

1. any aquatic plant of the genus Trapa, bearing an edible, nutlike fruit, especially T. natans, of the Old World.

2. the fruit itself.

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water chestnut British  

noun

1. Also called: water caltrop.  a floating aquatic onagraceous plant, Trapa natans, of Asia, having four-pronged edible nutlike fruits

2. a Chinese cyperaceous plant, Eleocharis tuberosa, with an edible succulent corm

3. the corm of the Chinese water chestnut, used in Oriental cookery

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Etymology

Origin of water chestnut

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Simply add in several handfuls of thawed, chopped frozen spinach that you have squeezed dry along with some canned water chestnuts, drained and chopped.

From Salon

That jar of olives you bought on vacation, or that can of water chestnuts can be added into your stuffing or vegetable dish.

From Salon

For a main course, Perez-Studer likes honey sriracha salmon noodle bowl, filled with healthy veggies like baby bok choy, shiitake mushrooms and water chestnuts and sockeye salmon.

From Seattle Times

They’re sliced to reveal springy centers of ground pork, shrimp and water chestnuts, and enhanced by a dunk in what looks like honey but turns out to be salted plum caramel.

From Washington Post

“The meatballs were pretty good. The ratio of lean meat to flour to water chestnuts was about 5:4:1, and I didn’t detect any fat,” one member wrote.

From New York Times