Piments

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small, often spicy fruits or pods used as seasoning in cooking for their pungent flavor and heat ; plural form referring to multiple varieties of these pepped fruits commonly found in different cuisines worldwide ; culinary ingredients that add sharpness and warmth to dishes, typically derived from the capsicum family
2. Edible, usually hot peppers employed to enhance the taste and spiciness of foods ; collective term denoting various types of chili peppers used in gastronomy ; plants bearing spicy fruits that contribute pungency and flavor intensity in meals
3. Capsicum fruits known for their sharp and fiery taste used in seasoning dishes ; plural form indicating several spicy pepper pods used in cooking ; botanical products valued for their ability to increase heat and flavor complexity in recipes

Etymology: "Piments" is simply the plural of "piment", a noun borrowed from French, where it has meant a spiced or flavored wine and, more generally, pepper or spice. The French word is itself the origin of the English term, so "piment" arrived in English as a direct loan rather than a word built from parts within English. The French noun has a family of relatives that show how closely these terms are connected. English "pimento" and Spanish "pimiento" both descend from the same Latin-rooted idea of pepper, and English "pigment" is a distant cousin, sharing the same underlying root that once tied colouring and spicing together. These words look alike largely because they grew from one soil, then branched into different meanings as they passed between languages.

Synonyms: peppers, chili, capsicum, jalapeños, habaneros