paprika

Definition

Powdered spice made from dried and ground fruits of sweet pepper (bell pepper) or chili pepper (cultivars of Capsicum annuum), or mixtures of these (used especially in Hungarian cooking).

Etymology

Borrowed from Hungarian paprika, from Serbo-Croatian pàprika, from pȁpar, from Proto-Slavic *pьpьrь, from Latin piper, from Ancient Greek πέπερι (péperi, “pepper”), from Indo-Aryan; compare Sanskrit पिप्पलि (pippali, “long pepper”). Akin to paprikash.

Example Sentences

• "As a condiment in food, paprika is reputed to be strongly aphrodisiac."
• "California is taking the lead, producing a paprika that is more standardized and more uniformly available than the European growers offer."
• "Using the trio of paprikas gives more flavour than you'd get using a single paprika."