pepper root
- noun
- /ˈpɛpər ruːt/
- Specialized
:
raíz de pimienta
- Native Americans traditionally used pepper root for both food and medicine.
Examples
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The pungency of pepper root makes it a distinctive addition to wild salads.
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I found some fresh pepper roots at the farmer's market.
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Botanists identified the plant as pepper root due to the flavor of its roots.
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The pepper root adds a unique flavor to the dish.
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Native Americans traditionally used pepper root for both food and medicine.
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The pungency of pepper root makes it a distinctive addition to wild salads.
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I found some fresh pepper root at the farmer's market.
Synonyms
A North American plant that lives many years with two large leaves and white spring flowers
A North American wild herb with two heart-shaped leaves and strong-smelling roots
A small wild plant with strong-tasting roots that grows in moist woods
A North American wild plant with toothed leaves and strong smelling roots used to add taste or to treat illness
A North American plant with strong tasting roots used to flavor food or as medicine
A small North American plant with white spring flowers and toothed roots
Surface Forms
Morphology
pepper + root
Although the exact botanical species cannot be determined from the compound, a B1 learner who knows 'pepper' (spicy/pungent plant or spice) and 'root' (underground plant organ) can infer this refers to a root with a peppery or pungent quality. The modifier+head noun composition is straightforward and follows common cross-linguistic naming patterns for plant parts, so the meaning is derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
The plant name pepper root comes from the strong, spicy taste of its root. Because people used that spicy root like 'pepper' for food and medicine, the name stuck and now means this herb with a hot taste.
