water chestnut
noun
1.
any aquatic plant of the genus
Trapa,
bearing an edible, nutlike fruit, especially
T. natans,
of the Old World.
2.
the fruit itself.
Also called
water caltrop
.
Origin
1850-55
Examples from the web for
water chestnut
water chestnut
is an annual, rooted aquatic plant with a leafy rosette that floats on the surface.
These invading species, which include the
water chestnut
and zebra mussel, have had major impacts on the ecology of the estuary.
In the river's freshwater shallows, the first green rosettes of
water chestnut
leaves will reach the surface by month's end.
British Dictionary definitions for
water chestnut
water chestnut
noun
1.
Also called
water caltrop.
a floating aquatic onagraceous plant,
Trapa natans,
of Asia, having four-pronged edible nutlike fruits
2.
Chinese water chestnut,
a Chinese cyperaceous plant,
Eleocharis tuberosa,
with an edible succulent corm
3.
the corm of the Chinese water chestnut, used in Oriental cookery