a hot, biting condiment composed of the ground pods and seeds of the pepper Capsicum annuum longum.
2.
the long, wrinkled, twisted fruit of this plant.
3.
the plant itself.
Also called cayenne pepper.
Origin
1750-60; short for cayenne pepper, formerly cayan < Tupikyinha, but long associated with Cayenne
Related forms
cayenned, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for cayenne pepper
cayenne pepper
/keɪˈɛn/
noun
1.
a very hot condiment, bright red in colour, made from the dried seeds and pods of various capsicums Often shortened to cayenne Also called red pepper
Word Origin
C18: ultimately from Tupi quiynha
Cayenne
/keɪˈɛn/
noun
1.
the capital of French Guiana, on an island at the mouth of the Cayenne River: French penal settlement from 1854 to 1938. Pop: 50 594 (1999)
Word Origin and History for cayenne pepper
cayenne
n.
"pungent dried pepper," 1756, from Tupi (Brazil) kyynha "capsicum," mistakenly associated with town of Cayenne in French Guyana. The town name is the French form of Guyana.