CAPSICUM • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Capsicum

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noun

Capsicum n. (Bot.)

A genus of plants of many species, producing capsules or dry berries of various forms, which have an exceedingly pungent, biting taste, and when ground form the red or Cayenne pepper of commerce. Note: The most important species are Capsicum baccatum or bird pepper, Capsicum fastigiatum or chili pepper, Capsicum frutescens or spur pepper (from which tabasco is obtained), Capsicum chinense, which includes the fiery-hot habanero pepper, and Capsicum annuum or Guinea pepper, which includes the bell pepper, the jalapeno pepper, the cayenne pepper, and other common garden varieties. The fruit is much used, both in its green and ripe state, in pickles and in cookery. These contain varying levels of the substance capsaicin (C18H27O3N), which gives the peppers their hot taste. The habanero is about 25-50 times hotter than the jalapeno according to a scale developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. See also Cayenne pepper, pepper.

Any plant of the genus Capsicum (of the Solanaceae family, which are unrelated to Piper), and its fruit; red pepper; chili pepper; as, the bell pepper and the jalapeno pepper (both Capsicum annuum) and the habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense); .

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Etymology of 'Capsicum'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Capsicum" Quotes from Famous Books

... fish to any desired amount in a large saucepan, add two or three sliced onions, one or two sliced carrots, three shallots, two cloves of garlic, a bunch of thyme and parsley, three or four cloves, two bayleaves, half a teaspoonful of capsicum, a wine-glass of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over the above mixture two quarts of water and boil gently for half an hour, the pan covered. Drain and lay on a hot dish. Then mix a teaspoonful of saffron in the liquid, pass through a strainer into a soup tureen. Serve the soup ...

— Twenty-four Little French Dinners and How to Cook and Serve Them • Cora Moore

... Of the Capsicum there are many species, both annual and perennial; some of the latter being of a shrubby or woody character, and from four to six feet in height. As they are mostly tropical, and consequently tender, none but the annual species can be successfully grown ...

— The Field and Garden Vegetables of America • Fearing Burr

... the murder's all out, I'm sorry,' added the dolls' dressmaker, rigid from head to foot with energy as she shook her little fist before her eyes, 'that I didn't give him Cayenne pepper and chopped pickled Capsicum!' ...

— Our Mutual Friend • Charles Dickens

Words linked to "Capsicum" : tabasco plant, capsicum pepper plant, Solanaceae, cone pepper, sweet pepper, pimento, shrub, long pepper, pimiento, cherry pepper, bird pepper, sweet pepper plant, cayenne, Capsicum frutescens, Capsicum baccatum, paprika, chili pepper, Capsicum annuum longum, genus Capsicum, pepper, bush, potato family, Capsicum annuum cerasiforme, Capsicum annuum grossum, capsaicin