peppercorn

Meaning

Noun

• The seeds of the plant Piper nigrum. Commonly used as a spice, usually but not always ground or crushed.
• A small, insignificant quantity; a nominal consideration used to satisfy the requirements for the creation of a legal contract.

Origin

• From Middle English peper corn, peper-corn, pepercorn, from Old English piporcorn, corresponding to pepper + corn. Compare Dutch peperkorrel, German Pfefferkorn, Danish peberkorn, Swedish pepparkorn, Icelandic piparkorn.