bird pepper

noun

1. a variety of pepper, Capsicum anuum glabriusculum, with small, elongated berries.

bird pepper

noun

1. a tropical solanaceous plant, Capsicum frutescens , thought to be the ancestor of the sweet pepper and many hot peppers
2. the narrow podlike hot-tasting fruit of this plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of bird pepper¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

The Palma Christi and bird-pepper grow into perennial plants, living and producing many years.

From Project Gutenberg

The dried fruit of a plant called bird pepper, a native of both Indies.

From Project Gutenberg