nasturcium

Old English

Etymology

From Latin nasturtium, from nāsus (“nose”) +‎ tormentum (“torment”) or torquēre (“to twist”) for its pungence.

Noun

nasturcium n

various plants with a spicy flavor in the family Brassicaceae, especially the genus Nasturtium, watercress
- a. 1200, Herbarium Apuleii, London, British Library, Harley 6258B:
  Nim þa wyrt nasturcium & pollegian, seoð on wætere, sile drincan.
  Take the herbs nasturtium & pennyroyal, boil in water, and drink them.

Descendants

Middle English: nasturtium

References

“nasturtium, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2003.

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