noun
Usage: sometimes capitalized C
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Cayenne, city and island in French Guiana) of earlier cayan, chian, kayan, modification of Tupi kyinha, quiynha
1. : a very hot and pungent powder made by drying and grinding the whole fruits or the seeds of several hot peppers (as the long pepper)
2. : hot pepper 2 ; often : any of several cultivated peppers derived from one variety ( Capsicum frutescens longum ) and characterized by very long twisted pungent red fruits
3. : the fruit of a cayenne pepper