Pepperings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A scattering of small, sharp bursts of spice that enhance the flavor of food
2. An intermittent application of seasoning that brings a piquant taste to dishes
3. A light, sporadic sprinkling of a spicy condiment used to amplify culinary enjoyment

Etymology: "Pepperings" is the plural of "peppering," so it is a form of a noun you can trace back through its base. The plural simply counts separate applications of the spice or the scattering of many small bits, and the noun it belongs to is built on "pepper," the familiar seasoning. Pepper itself reached English from Old English "pipor," borrowed from Latin "piper," which came from Greek "peperi," a word with roots in the Sanskrit name for the spice.

Synonyms: sprinklings, scatterings, sprays, sporadics, dots