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.

water chestnut

noun

1. Also calledwater 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of water chestnut¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Once I was as full of romance as a water-chestnut is of starch.

From Project Gutenberg

She seemed to have the texture of the water chestnut and the lush, fat vegetables of the spring.

From Project Gutenberg