I. ˈpepə(r) noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English peper, from Old English pipor; akin to Old High German pfeffar pepper, Old Norse piparr; all from a prehistoric Germanic word borrowed from Latin piper pepper, from Greek peperi, probably from Sanskrit pippali long pepper
1.
a. : a pungent product obtained from the fruit of an East Indian plant ( Piper nigrum ), used as a condiment and sometimes as a carminative or stimulant, and prepared in a form (1) consisting of the entire dried berry or (2) consisting of the dried seeds divested of all membranes and pulp with both forms being usually ground into powder before use — called also (1) black pepper, (2) white pepper
b. : any of several somewhat similar products obtained from other plants of the genus Piper — often used with a qualifying term; see long pepper
c. : any of various pungent condiments obtained from plants other than those of the genus Piper — used with a qualifying term
paprika is sometimes known as Hungarian pepper
— see cayenne pepper
2. : a plant of the genus Piper ; especially : a woody vine ( Piper nigrum ) with ovate leaves and spicate flowers that is native to the oriental tropics but widely cultivated in tropical regions for its red berries from which pepper is prepared
3.
a. : a plant of the genus Capsicum (especially C. frutescens )
b. : the many-seeded berry enclosed in a thickened integument like an indehiscent pod that is the fruit of any of these plants, varies greatly in shape and size in different varieties, is usually red or yellow when ripe, and includes numerous cultivated forms used in the preparation of condiments and relishes and as vegetables — see bird pepper , cherry pepper , cone pepper , long pepper ; hot pepper , sweet pepper
4. : any of numerous plants other than members of the genera Piper and Capsicum that have pungent or aromatic qualities — usually used with a qualifying term
African pepper
5. : pepperbox 1
6. or pepper trash : finely broken leaf present as an impurity in raw cotton
7. : pepper game
II. verb
( peppered ; peppered ; peppering -p(ə)riŋ ; peppers )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to sprinkle or season with pepper
pepper a stew
b. : to sprinkle as if with pepper : cover with small dots, marks, or injuries
peppered with freckles
the bees peppered him with stings
c. : to shower with or as if with shot or other missiles
pepper the boys with bird shot
peppering them with questions
2. : to make (as writing) spicy or provocative
3.
a. : to thrash or beat thoroughly with or as if with rapid repeated blows
peppered his opponent with short lefts
b. obsolete : to conquer or ruin by or as if by beating
4. archaic : to infect with a venereal disease : pox
5. : to sprinkle as pepper is sprinkled : strew in or as if in grains
peppering classical quotations right and left
the wind peppered stinging sleet into our faces
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to shower in small particles and usually briskly
the rain came peppering down
shot peppered among the leaves
b. archaic : to shower flattery or fulsome praise
2. : to apply pepper especially as a seasoning
don't pepper so heavily