cress
pronunciation
How to pronounce cress in British English:
UK [kres]
How to pronounce cress in American English:
US [krɛs]
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- Noun:
- any of various plants of the family Cruciferae having edible pungent-tasting leaves
- pungent leaves of any of numerous cruciferous herbs
Word Origin
- cress (n.)
- Old English cresse, originally cærse, from Proto-Germanic *krasjon- (cognates: Middle Low German kerse, karse; Middle Dutch kersse; Old High German kresso, German Kresse), from PIE root *gras- "to devour" (see gastric). It underwent a metathesis similar to that of grass. French cresson, Italian crescione are Germanic loan-words.