Irish moss
- noun
- /ˈaɪrɪʃ mɔs/
:
musgo irlandés
- Many vegan chefs use Irish moss as a thickening agent in their recipes.
Examples
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In coastal towns, Irish moss is harvested and dried for use in traditional dishes.
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She added Irish moss to the smoothie for its health benefits and creamy texture.
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Well, the green of the Irish moss is something to behold.
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Look, the green it takes to pay for the Irish moss is also something to behold.
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Twenty-eight grand for Irish moss, Theo?
Synonyms
A dark purple edible seaweed found on Atlantic coasts used to thicken food
A red seaweed like Irish moss that grows in the North Atlantic and is used in food
A dark purple edible seaweed from Atlantic coasts used to thicken food
A dark purple seaweed eaten and used to thicken food like puddings
A red sea plant used as food and to thicken dishes
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase transparently signals a plant associated with Ireland — a B1 learner who knows 'Irish' and 'moss' will likely infer it is some kind of Irish plant or moss. However, the established sense refers to a red/seaweed (not true moss) used as a culinary thickener and dietary supplement, which is not derivable from the literal constituents, so the full meaning is not predictable.
Etymology
Irish moss probably comes from where it grows and how it looks: people in Ireland found a dark, moss-like plant on the rocks and called it Irish moss. People used this 'seaweed' to 'thicken' soups and desserts, so today the name means the edible seaweed used as a natural 'thickener'.
