capsicum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a plant of the genus Capsicum, which includes sweet peppers and chili peppers

   Each capsicum produced several bright red fruits by late summer.

2. 2
   noun

   especially in British, Indian, and Australian English: the fruit of a sweet pepper plant

   She sliced a green capsicum into the curry.

From New Latin Capsicum, the botanical genus name. Its deeper origin is disputed: it has been connected with Latin capsa, 'box,' for the hollow fruit, and with Greek kaptein, 'to bite,' for the pungent taste of many peppers.

Topics